My concert group wants to skip the encore to beat traffic, and I feel absurdly betrayed

Four of us bought tickets to see a band we have followed since high school. The arena is ninety minutes away, parking was expensive, and we all took the next morning off. I thought that meant we were committing to the full night.

This week, the friend who is driving announced that we should leave during the final song before the encore. He has been to the venue before and says the parking garage becomes a standstill. If we move quickly, we could save close to an hour. The other two immediately agreed.

I understand the logic. I have sat in that kind of garage with the engine off and everyone leaning on their horns. The “encore” is usually planned, not a genuine surprise. We may already know which popular songs are likely to be saved for it.

I still hate the idea of walking out while the band is playing. One of the songs I most want to hear is likely to come at the end. More than that, leaving early changes the feeling of the night. I do not want the final memory to be watching the stage disappear behind a concrete hallway while we congratulate ourselves for reaching the car first.

I offered to take my own car. Then the plan becomes two cars, two parking fees and a solo drive home after midnight. I checked nearby hotels, but spending that much to protect three songs feels dramatic. Public transportation does not line up well with the end time.

My friends think I am treating a predictable encore like a sacred ritual. They say we will have already heard nearly two hours of music and can play the missing songs in the car. I think we planned the trip around this concert; the inconvenience at the end is part of what we signed up for.

I do not want to pressure the driver to sit in traffic when he is doing us a favor. I also do not want majority rule to decide that my most anticipated part is disposable. Would you arrange your own ride, accept the group plan, or ask everyone to wait through the encore and offer to drive home yourself?