Queues are the least enjoyable part of any arena event. You queue to get in, queue for food, queue for drinks, queue for the toilet, queue for merchandise, and queue to get out. At a 20,000-capacity venue, those queues can eat into your evening significantly. But with some planning and awareness, you can reduce the time you spend standing in line and increase the time you spend enjoying the show. Here is how.
Getting in: the entry queue
The entry queue at a busy arena can stretch for 20 to 30 minutes or more. Security checks, bag searches, and ticket scanning all slow the process down. Here is how to keep it short.
Arrive at the right time
There are two approaches. Either arrive very early, when the doors first open and the queues have not built up yet, or arrive after the initial rush, typically 30 to 45 minutes after doors open. The worst time to arrive is 15 to 30 minutes after doors, when the majority of attendees turn up at once.
Minimise what you carry
Security checks are the main bottleneck. If you have no bag, you can often use a fast-track or bag-free lane (some venues have these). If you do have a bag, keep it small and open it ready for inspection before you reach the front. Empty your pockets of metal items so the metal detector does not flag you for a secondary check.
Use the right entrance
Some arenas have multiple entrances. The main entrance facing the nearest transport hub is always the busiest. Side entrances or entrances on the far side of the building are often significantly quieter. Check your ticket for your designated entrance and, if you have a choice, pick the one that is furthest from the main approach.
Have your ticket ready
It sounds obvious, but the number of people who reach the front of the queue and then start searching for their ticket on their phone is remarkable. Open your ticket (or your mobile wallet) before you join the queue. If the venue uses a specific ticketing app, make sure it is downloaded and working before you leave home.
Food and drink queues
Concession stands at arenas get hammered during predictable windows. The busiest times are immediately after the doors open (when everyone gets their first drink), during the break between the support act and the headliner, and during any interval. Here is how to work around them.
Eat before you arrive
This is the simplest solution. Eating at a restaurant near the venue before the show eliminates the need to queue for food inside. See our guide to food and drink at UK arenas for specific recommendations at each venue.
Buy during the support act
Most people stay in their seats during the support act and then rush to the concessions during the changeover. If you go to the bar or food stand during the support act, the queues are typically much shorter. Yes, you miss some of the support act, but you gain time and avoid the crush.
Use the less obvious concession stands
Arenas have multiple concession points on each level. The ones nearest to the main concourse entrance and the ones closest to the majority of seated blocks are the busiest. Walk further around the concourse, especially to stands near the upper tier stairs or in corners that people do not naturally gravitate towards. These stands serve the same food and drink but with shorter queues.
Buy rounds
If you are with a group, one person buys for everyone. Most arenas allow you to buy up to four drinks per transaction. This reduces the number of people in the queue.
Toilet queues
Arena toilets follow the same crowd dynamics as concessions. The busiest times are during the changeover and immediately after the show.
Go early or go during the set
Use the toilets as soon as you arrive, before the show starts. If you need to go during the event, the quietest time is during the main act's performance, when most people are in their seats or on the floor. The changeover is the worst time.
Walk further
The toilets nearest to the main concourse areas are the busiest. Toilets on the upper levels, or those tucked away at the ends of the concourse, are generally quieter. A two-minute walk can save you a 10-minute queue.
Merchandise queues
Merch stands often have the longest queues of all, especially for popular artists with limited-edition items.
Buy before the show
Many arenas open merchandise stands on the concourse before the show starts. If you know you want a t-shirt or hoodie, buy it when you arrive. The queues are shortest before the show and longest immediately after, when everyone decides they want a souvenir on the way out.
Buy online if available
Some tours sell merchandise online, either in advance or after the show. If the option exists, buying online avoids the queue entirely and means you do not have to carry a bag of merch around the venue all evening.
Getting out: the exit queue
The exit crush is the worst queue of the evening. Ten to twenty thousand people all trying to leave through the same exits at the same time, funnelling into tube stations, car parks, and roads. Here is how to manage it.
Wait it out
The simplest strategy is to stay in the venue for 15 to 20 minutes after the show ends. Visit the toilets, have a drink, or just sit and let the initial wave pass. The tube station or car park will be dramatically quieter 20 minutes later than it is at the instant the show finishes.
Leave during the encore
This is a more aggressive strategy and not for everyone, but if you absolutely need to catch a specific train or want to avoid the worst of the rush, leaving during the final song or encore gets you ahead of the crowd. You sacrifice the last few minutes of the show but gain a clear exit.
Walk to the next station or car park
At The O2 in London, for example, North Greenwich station gets overwhelmingly busy after shows. Walking to another station or taking the Thames Clipper is often faster overall. At other venues, walking to a more distant car park or transport hub can bypass the worst congestion. Check your options in advance.
Use a different transport mode
If everyone is heading to the tube or the train, a bus or a river boat might be empty. Check what alternative transport is available from your venue.
For more practical arena advice, read our standing vs seated guide and our guide to getting the best seats. For venue-specific transport and layout details, check out our individual arena guides on the Tickts homepage.
