What Taylor Swift's Eras Tour taught us about accessible tickets

Scoring tickets to Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour is no easy feat. But it's much, much harder when you need accessible tickets.

Just ask Amy Evans, an Aussie wheelchair user who was told the MCG may not be able to accommodate her support worker in a VIP section. Or Sophie Bevan, a Swiftie who made over 700 phone calls just to join the disabled access ticket queue for Wembley Stadium. Or Silvia Stoyanova, who spent €300 on a front row seat only to learn that it wasn't wheelchair accessible.

These experiences aren't limited to Taylor Swift fans. People with disability often find themselves navigating lengthy online forms or engaging in games of phone tag to secure accessible tickets for various events (if they get them at all!).

At Like Family, we're passionate about helping people of all abilities to attend and enjoy events, hassle-free. So we've created this quick guide to help you find and book accessible tickets with ease.

What are accessible tickets, and who can buy them?

Accessible tickets are specifically for people with disability and their companions. Of course, what counts as accessible seating will differ from person to person. This could include:

• wheelchair accessible spaces for wheelchair users. This could be a permanent, dedicated wheelchair space or one where a seat has been removed to make way for a wheelchair
• "easy access" seating for people with mobility needs who don't require a wheelchair. These seats are typically close to the exit and toilets and are accessible by 5 or fewer steps
• seats for hearing impaired people who may use hearing loops and/or require an Auslan interpreter
• seats for people who are blind or vision impaired that accommodate a Guide Dog
• seats for the companion/s of a person with disability. If you are a Companion Card holder, you may be able to get this for free

Apart from accessible seating, some venues may also offer facilities like sensory rooms, accessible bathrooms and wheelchair hire.

How can I buy accessible tickets?

How you go about buying accessible tickets will depend on the ticket provider and venue. Here are the main ones:

Via Ticketek

As the only authorised ticket seller for Taylor Swift's tour in Australia, Ticketek faced huge backlash for its handling of accessible tickets in mid 2023.

They've recently launched a new accessible online platform that makes it it far easier for people with disability and their companions to purchase tickets online. It includes:

• the ability to buy accessible and non-accessible tickets within the same transaction. This is handy for anyone who wants to buy tickets for a companion who doesn't need accessible seating. Just look out for the "accessible" filter when buying tickets online
• the ability to select seats rather than be allocated them. This allows attendees to choose seating that best suits their needs and preferences (like hearing loops for those with hearing impairments)
• the option to redeem an additional free ticket for any seat within a venue for their companion (just make sure you have a Companion Card)
• equal opportunity to book tickets for high-demand events in real time

Keep in mind that these features are not available at all venues. You can learn more about Ticketek's accessible ticket platform on their website.

Via Ticketmaster

Ticketmaster was the first ticketing platform in Australia to introduce online sales of accessible seats back in 2020. There are several ways you can buy accessible tickets via their platform (depending on the venue):

1. Use the interactive seat map to see how many accessible tickets are available, where they're located, and how much they cost
2. Call 1300 446 925
3. Submit a request and select the topic "accessible booking"

If you are bringing a companion along, you'll need to provide your Companion Card number to secure a free ticket for them. Learn more about accessible tickets and Ticketmaster.

Via Humanitix

Humanitix is on an impressive mission to give a billion people with disability equal access to events. They've collaborated with organisations like Vision Australia to improve the accessibility of their platform.

You can filter events on their site by accessibility status, including wheelchair access, audio descriptions, and sign language interpretation. You can also buy accessible and non-accessible tickets in the same transaction.

Enjoy accessible events with a Like Family support worker by your side

Did you know Companion Card holders can take a support worker along to participating venues free of charge? This includes concerts like Taylor Swift's!

If you haven't heard of Like Family before, we pair people with disability with reliable, genuine support workers. We can help you get to and from venues, attend events, and so many other fun activities that promote independence and community participation.

Sign up below to find the right support worker for your needs or talk to our team to learn more!