About

A service charge is an additional fee placed on the price of a ticket purchased in advance of a show. The revenue generated by the face value of each ticket sold is distributed between the artist and venue. The Michigan Union Ticket Office must apply a service charge to the ticket price to help pay box office operating costs. 

MUTO’s current fee structure for tickets purchased either online or in person is:

Tickets less than $10: $2.00
Tickets $10–$19.99: $3.50
Tickets $20–$29.99: $4.00
Tickets $30–$39.00: $5.00
Tickets $40 and higher: $6.50

As of 5/12/25 ticket prices The Ark’s website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fees.

There are no service fees for tickets purchased at The Ark’s box office or at the door the night of a show.

There are no advance tickets for RFD Boys shows, but you can buy your tickets at the door the night of the show. The box office will open 30 minutes before show time.

Ark gift certificates can be redeemed two ways.

In person
Ark gift certificates can be redeemed in person for tickets at The Ark’s box office any evening there is a show. The box office is open from 30 minutes before showtime until 60 minutes after showtime. We kindly ask that you wait to purchase tickets to future shows until after we have admitted the line for that night’s show. Ark Gift certificates can also be redeemed for concessions at the bar.

By phone
Ark gift certificates can be redeemed for tickets by calling The Ark’s business office at (734) 761-1800 during business hours. 

Box office
The Ark’s box office is typically open on evenings when there is a show. The box office is open from 30 minutes before showtime until 60 minutes after showtime. We kindly ask that you wait to purchase tickets to future shows until after we have admitted the line for that night’s show. Feel free to call to make sure the box office is open before you visit.

Buying tickets at the door
As long as a show isn’t sold out you can purchase tickets at the door. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Please queue in the regular line, and buy your tickets on your way inside.

All ticket sales are final. There are no returns or exchanges.

Will call tickets can be picked up from The Ark’s box office after doors open (30 minutes before showtime). Sometimes an Ark volunteer will distribute will call tickets in the queue before doors open. 

If you purchased mobile tickets through the Michigan Union Ticket Office, you received an email from muto-tix@umich.edu with the subject Your MUTO Tickets! The tickets in this email are what you will need for entry at The Ark. 

As long as you purchased tickets through The Ark or the Michigan Union Ticket Office, we will have a record of your purchase in the box office.

If you deleted your mobile tickets or misplaced your physical tickets, feel free to contact The Ark’s business office at (734) 761-1800 or the Michigan Union Ticket Office at (734) 763-8587 for help.

Concertgoers who wish to purchase 10 or more tickets to an Ark event may call The Ark’s business office at (734) 761-1800. We will process your ticket order by phone with no service fee.

We strongly caution against purchasing tickets from third parties and individuals on Craigslist, Facebook, and Stubhub. Only purchase tickets through authorized outlets.

If you purchased a ticket to an Ark show anywhere other than the Michigan Union Ticket Office or in person at The Ark, there is no way for us to verify your ticket prior to the night of the show. If your ticket doesn’t scan, we cannot accept it.

If you have won Ark tickets through a radio promotion, we will have your name at the box office the night of the show. Please know that we cannot exchange your tickets or put them in the name of a friend or relative should you be unable to attend.

Please line up in the regular queue and get your tickets on your way inside.

Ticket prices typically range in price from $20–$50. The Ark does not accept ticket returns or exchanges. Ticket refunds are only available when a show is cancelled.

View map of downtown Ann Arbor parking lots and structures

From the front door of The Ark at 316 S. Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan, the closest parking areas are:

• S. Ashley Lot, 309 S. Ashley, located behind The Ark building. Entrances on William St and Ashley St.
• Fourth and William Structure (Republic Parking), 111 E. William, located around the corner from The Ark.
• Parking at street meters, if you can find one, is free after 6 pm and on Sundays.

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. There are rare exceptions, which we try to call out in the show descriptions on the event page in our calendar.

When should we arrive to line up?

This is a hard question to answer! It really depends on the night. Sometimes there are only a few people lined up a half hour before doors, and sometimes the line goes all the way to the corner by then, especially when the weather is good. There’s really no way for us to know.

Please be considerate of our neighbors by following these simple guidelines:

• Form a line along the curb to allow access to shops and other businesses.
• Make sure there’s a clear path for people walking down the street.
• Please put trash and cigarette butts in the appropriate containers.

We’re proud of Main Street and want to keep it looking great!

The Ford Listening Room at The Ark seats 400 people. Everyone with a ticket will have a place to sit. Most seats are on a first-come, first-served basis with 70 reserved seats available for many shows. No seat in The Ark is more than 50 feet from the stage, so you can be assured of an intimate music experience.

• The Ark is fully accessible to those with disabilities. The Ark works to accommodate anyone with special seating needs.
• The listening room is located on the second floor of 316 S. Main. It is wheelchair accessible by elevator, which is located just behind the box office, straight back from our main entrance.
• We recommend any patron with special seating needs purchase general admission tickets. The Ark reserves a handful of seats as a handicap section near the accessible entrance to the listening room for every show. Please see the area outlined in this seating chart.
• The Ark offers early entry to any patrons with disabilities or who need extra time. Please arrive at the front door no earlier than 15 minutes before the doors open and ring the doorbell. The Ark staff will assist you in securing appropriate seating when you arrive.
• In addition to the handicap section referenced above, patrons entering early may utilize other general admissions sections if preferred. We ask our patrons who enter early to refrain from taking seats in the first two rows (first row of tables for smaller shows).
• If you have concerns about your specific needs, please contact us via e-mail or by phone at (734) 761-1800.

Alcohol

• The Ark has a club liquor license, which means we are only permitted to sell alcohol to members of The Ark.
• Become a member of The Ark, or join at the club the night of a show.
• Current Ark members are allowed to purchase alcohol for themselves and their guests (21 and over, of course).
• If purchasing alcohol for guests, members need to sign the roster at the bar and list the names of their guests. We offer beer on tap in addition to several fine bottled beers, wine, and mixed drinks.
• Per Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) regulations, no one is permitted to bring alcohol onto The Ark premises or to leave The Ark with alcohol.
• To assure compliance, no one is permitted to leave The Ark with open containers of any kind. Anyone bringing alcohol into The Ark or attempting to leave The Ark with alcohol is subject to removal.

Food

Popcorn and Zingerman’s baked goods are available for sale at the bar.

• Children one year and older need to have a ticket for admittance.
• If a child begins crying or talking, we ask that you step out into the hallway or lobby, where you will still be able to watch and hear the performance.
• Some shows have a special ticket price listed for children. This price applies to children ages 1 to 5 unless otherwise indicated.
• “Family” performances are often held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Tickets to these shows are offered at a lower-than-average ticket price for all patrons. Please watch our calendar for these special performances.

• All devices that beep, ring, or flash should be turned off before entering The Ford Listening Room at The Ark.
• No photography is permitted unless the artist has specifically given permission. No flash photography is permitted at The Ark.
• No video or audio recording is allowed except with the express permission of the artist.
• By using an Ark ticket for admittance, patrons agree not to transmit or aid in the transmission of any description, account, picture, or reproduction of the performance, exhibition, or event to which the ticket is issued without the permission of The Ark or the artist.

All attendees and guests are required to comply with any health and safety laws, orders, ordinances, regulations and health and safety guidance adopted by the State of Michigan, the County of Washtenaw and The Ark in place at the time of attendance.

The Ark is a smoke-free facility.

No weapons of any kind are permitted on The Ark premises. Any person found to possess a weapon in The Ark will be removed.

In the case of inclement weather and poor travel conditions, shows at The Ark will typically still take place unless the evening’s performers are not able to get there. If a show is cancelled on short notice due to weather or other circumstances, we will place a notice on the front page of our website to that effect.

The Ark relies on the dedication of its volunteers. Over 400 people donate their time and talents to The Ark, performing a broad range of tasks that are essential to putting artists on the stage.

Photography is permitted only if the artist has specifically given permission. No flash photography is permitted at The Ark. No video or audio recording is allowed except with the express permission of the artist.

Patrons grant permission to The Ark and its designees to use their images or likenesses in connection with any live or recorded transmission or reproduction of events they attend.