What AXS Is and How It Operates
AXS is a ticket marketplace and distribution platform where you can buy tickets to concerts, sports events, theater shows, and other live events. The company operates both as a primary ticket seller (meaning venues and promoters sell through AXS directly) and as a resale marketplace where people who already own tickets can sell them to others.
AXS handles the full transaction: it processes your payment, delivers your tickets, and manages the resale process if you decide to sell. The platform operates through its website and mobile app, and tickets are typically delivered as digital files you read or as mobile tickets you access through the AXS app on your phone.
The company is owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), one of the largest live entertainment companies in the world, which means AXS has direct relationships with thousands of venues and promoters. This gives it access to a large inventory of events, though not every venue uses AXS as its ticket seller.
Key Takeaways
- AXS sells primary tickets directly from venues and promoters, and also operates a resale marketplace where ticket holders can sell to others.
- Tickets are delivered as digital files or mobile tickets in the AXS app, and you need the app or a printed copy to enter most venues.
- Resale prices on AXS are set by the seller, not by AXS, so the same event can have tickets at many different prices depending on demand and how quickly the seller wants to move them.
- AXS charges fees on top of the ticket price for both primary purchases and resales, and these fees are shown before you complete your purchase.
- If you buy a resale ticket, AXS guarantees the ticket is real and will work at the venue, but you are buying from another person, not from AXS itself.
Buying Primary Tickets Directly From AXS
When you buy a primary ticket through AXS, you are purchasing directly from the venue or promoter at the official price they set. You search for the event on the AXS website or app, select your seats or general admission section, and proceed to checkout. AXS will show you the base ticket price, then add fees for processing, facility charges, and delivery before you pay.
The total cost is always shown before you confirm the purchase, so you know exactly what you are paying. Payment methods include credit cards, debit cards, and sometimes digital wallets depending on the event. Once your payment goes through, AXS sends you a confirmation email with a link to read your tickets or instructions to access them in the mobile app.
Primary tickets on AXS are often subject to purchase limits — a venue might allow only four tickets per person, for example — to prevent bulk buying and resale. Some events also use a lottery or waitlist system if demand is very high, which AXS will explain when you search for the event.
Understanding AXS Resale and How Prices Work
If you own tickets to an event and want to sell them, you can list them on the AXS resale marketplace. You set the price yourself — AXS does not set it for you. This means resale prices can be much higher or lower than the original ticket price, depending on how much demand there is and how urgently you want to sell.
When you list a ticket for resale, AXS takes a percentage of the sale price as a commission, typically around 10 percent, though this varies by event and venue. You also pay a small processing fee. The buyer pays the resale price plus their own fees, and you receive the remainder after AXS deducts its commission and fees.
Resale tickets on AXS are protected by a may provide: if you buy a resale ticket and it does not work at the venue, AXS will refund you or find you a replacement ticket. However, you are still buying from another person, not from AXS, so the transaction is between you and that seller with AXS as the intermediary.
How to Access Your Tickets After Purchase
After you buy tickets on AXS, the platform delivers them in one of two ways: as a digital file you read, or as a mobile ticket in the AXS app. Most venues now use mobile tickets, which means you open the AXS app on your phone at the venue entrance and show your ticket on the screen to the staff member scanning tickets.
If your tickets are downloadable files, you receive a PDF or image file in your confirmation email. You can print this file and bring the printed copy to the venue, or you can show it on your phone screen. Either method works — the venue staff will scan the barcode or QR code on your ticket to verify it is real and that you have not already entered.
Mobile tickets are generally faster at entry because there is no printing step and no risk of losing a printed copy. However, you need your phone charged and you need to have downloaded the AXS app before you arrive at the venue. If you prefer a printed ticket, read and print your file as soon as you receive it, in case you have printer problems later.
Fees You Will Pay on AXS
AXS charges multiple fees on top of the ticket price, and these are disclosed before you complete your purchase. The main fees are a service fee (usually a percentage of the ticket price), a facility fee (set by the venue), and a delivery fee (usually a flat amount per order). Some events also have a processing fee.
These fees can add 20 to 30 percent to the base ticket price, though the exact amount depends on the venue and the event. For example, a $50 ticket might cost $65 to $70 after all fees are added. AXS shows the full breakdown in your cart before you pay, so you can see exactly what each fee is.
Resale tickets have their own fee structure. The seller sets the resale price, and then both the buyer and seller pay fees. The buyer pays a buyer's fee on top of the resale price, and the seller's commission is deducted from what they receive. These fees are also shown before you complete the purchase.
Transferring Tickets to Another Person
If you buy tickets on AXS and want to give them to someone else, you can transfer them through the platform. The process varies slightly depending on whether the tickets are mobile tickets or downloadable files. For mobile tickets, you use the AXS app to send the tickets to another person's email address, and they receive a link to claim the tickets in their own AXS account.
For downloadable tickets, you may be able to forward your confirmation email to the other person, or you may need to use AXS's transfer feature. Some venues restrict transfers — they may not allow transfers at all, or they may only allow transfers up to a certain number of days before the event. AXS will tell you whether transfers are allowed when you view your tickets.
If you want to sell your tickets rather than give them away, use the resale marketplace instead of transferring them. Transfers are for giving tickets to friends or family; resale is for selling them to strangers and receiving money.
What to Do If You Have Problems With Your Tickets
If your tickets do not arrive, do not work at the venue, or if you have other issues with your purchase, AXS has a customer service team you can contact. You can reach them through the AXS website by logging into your account and submitting a support request, or by calling the phone number listed on your confirmation email.
Response times vary, but AXS typically responds to support requests within one to two business days. If you bought resale tickets and they do not work at the venue, AXS's may provide means you should receive a refund or replacement. If you bought primary tickets and there is a problem, contact AXS support with your confirmation number and a description of the issue.
Keep your confirmation email and any receipts from your purchase. These documents prove you bought the tickets and help AXS resolve your issue faster. If you are having trouble accessing your mobile tickets in the app, try logging out and logging back in, or reinstalling the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy tickets on AXS if I do not have a smartphone?
Yes. You can read and print your tickets from the confirmation email AXS sends you, and bring the printed copy to the venue. Not all events offer printed tickets, but most do. Check your confirmation email to see whether your tickets are mobile-only or if you have the option to print them.
What happens if I sell my tickets on AXS resale and the buyer does not show up?
Once you transfer the tickets to the buyer through AXS, they are their responsibility. If they do not use the tickets, that is not your problem — you have already completed the sale and received your money. The venue will not refund them because they owned the tickets and chose not to attend.
Are AXS fees the same for every event?
No. Fees vary by venue, event type, and ticket price. A small local theater might charge lower fees than a major sports arena. AXS always shows the full fee breakdown before you pay, so you can see the exact cost for the specific event you are buying.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind about going to an event?
Refund policies depend on the venue and the event. Some venues offer refunds up to a certain date before the event; others do not offer refunds at all. Check the event details on AXS before you buy to see what the refund policy is. If you bought resale tickets, you generally cannot get a refund because you are buying from another person.
What if AXS does not have tickets to an event I want to attend?
Not every venue uses AXS as its ticket seller. If the event you want is not on AXS, the venue may use a different ticket platform like Ticketmaster, StubHub, or its own website. Search for the event name and "tickets" to find where that venue sells them.