Eventbrite and Harris Poll Find Baby Boomers Share the “Live More” Mentality With Millennials

SAN FRANCISCO, CA–(Marketwired – August 19, 2015) – Eventbrite, the world’s largest self-service ticketing platform that helps people enrich their lives, today released new research comparing Baby boomers’ and millennials’ interests and spending habits around live experiences. The data revealed an overwhelming majority of both generations – 91% of boomers (ages 51 to 70) and 94% of millennials (ages 18 to 34) – believe experiences are an important aspect of leading a fulfilling life and nearly half (44%) of boomers are attending more events now compared to 10 years ago. The online survey was conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Eventbrite in late June 2015 among 549 millennials (ages 18-34) and 799 boomers (ages 51-70).

“Boomers and their adult children may be surprised to find that they share the same ‘live more’ mentality,” said Julia Hartz, co-founder and president of Eventbrite. “While there’s been a lot of attention on millennials’ habits and spending behavior, as a company focused on helping fuel people’s passions, we’re delighted to reveal that boomers are also a big part of the growing trend of spending on experiences over things.”

Experiences hold more value than material possessions across generations

Previous Eventbrite research illustrated that millennials place a premium on experiences and live events, and these new findings show they’re not the only ones. Nearly three in five boomers (59%) and more than three quarters (76%) of millennials prefer to spend money on experiences instead of material things. The new research reveals that boomers spend an average of $640 a year on them, compared to $803 for millennials.

Boomers are getting back in the dating game

The study revealed boomers are especially attending dating events, even more so than among millennials. In the past year, boomers who attended live events attended an average of nearly eight (7.7) dating-focused events while millennials attended an average of about five (5.2). On average, women who attended live events in the past year attended more dating events than men. Boomer women frequented about eight (8.5) events, while millennial women frequented seven (7.0) events. Meanwhile, of men who attended live events in the past year, boomer males attended an average of seven (7.4) dating events, while millennial men attended about four (3.9) dating events.

The nest may be empty, the calendar is full

More than half of boomers (54%) reported having more time for live experiences now that their children are older. And, they’re taking advantage of their free time; nearly half of boomers (44%) say they attend more live events now than 10 years ago. While both generations who attend live events are most likely to discover live experiences through friends and/or family (68% boomers and 72% millennials), millennials also rely heavily on social media for event discovery, much more than boomers (69% compared to 24%).

Nearly 40% of boomers who attend live events report these events make them feel like they can connect with younger generations and one out of five (20%) confessed to experiencing FOMO around live experiences that their friends and/or family attend without them.

Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Eventbrite from June 30-July 2, 2015 among 549 millennials (ages 18-34) and 799 boomers (ages 51-70). This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact eventbrite@sutherlandgold.com.

About Eventbrite

Eventbrite is the global marketplace for live experiences that allows people to find and create events. Since 2006, the self-service platform has helped event organizers of all kinds to sell more tickets through robust technology and promotional tools, totaling $3.5 billion in gross ticket sales. In addition to providing technology for organizers, Eventbrite has become the destination for consumers looking to discover a variety of live experiences from small photography and yoga classes to large concerts and festivals with tens of thousands of attendees. More than 200 million tickets have been processed on the platform, and in 2014 alone, Eventbrite processed $1.5 billion in gross ticket sales for attendees in more than 180 countries. Eventbrite investors include Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global and T. Rowe Price. Learn more at www.eventbrite.com.