Internet search engines have been criticised for helping to facilitate unauthorised ticket resales by Sam Shemtob, director of the Face-value European Alliance for Ticketing (FEAT). Speaking at the Primavera Pro music conference in Barcelona, Shemtob slammed search engines for hosting advertisements from unauthorised resellers. “Across Europe, countries including Belgium, France, Ireland and others have outlawed …
Ticketek strikes long-term Melbourne Racing Club deal
TEG’s Ticketek has sealed a five-year agreement with Melbourne Racing Club (MRC), host of the Caulfield Cup Carnival. The deal was announced to coincide with the release of tickets on general sale for the 2023 edition of the carnival, which will span race days on October 14, 18 and 21, as well as November 18 …
Live Nation pulls the plug on Download Germany
Live Nation GSA (Germany, Switzerland, Austria) officials have blamed production challenges created by this summer’s busy festival market for the decision to cancel next month’s Download Germany 2023. The hard rock festival attracted 65,000 fans when it was held in Germany for the first time in 2022 and was set to return in 2023 with …
FC Barcelona cuts season ticket prices ahead of Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys stay
FC Barcelona’s board of directors have agreed to a 50% reduction in the prices of season ticket prices for the 2023-24 season, which will be spent at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The move has been made in response to fan’s displeasure at the Spanish LaLiga club’s initial ticketing details, which saw up to a 30% …
United Rugby Championship breaks attendance record following fan engagement drive
The multinational BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) says improved fan engagement campaigns have helped it to break attendance records this season. The tournament, which features the top teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales, will conclude its 2022-23 season with this weekend’s sold-out grand final between DHL Stormers and Munster at the 55,000-capacity …
The O2 set for biggest-ever comedy year
Comedy now accounts for 15% of programming at London’s The O2, Europe’s busiest indoor arena. The venue said 2023 will be its biggest year on record for comedy with headliners including Peter Kay, Micky Flanagan and Kevin Hart. Following Kay’s monthly residency, which runs all the way through to April 2025, this month the stand-up …
California bill aims to prohibit exclusivity clauses between ticket sellers and venues
US Senator Scott Wilk’s legislation to prohibit exclusivity clauses in contracts between primary ticket sellers and entertainment venues in California headed to the Senate Floor and was voted on yesterday (Monday). The bill passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this month. Senator Wilk said: “Exclusivity contracts with entertainment venues mean higher ticket prices …
SeatGeek invalidates “free” tix bought with leaked discount code
SeatGeek says tickets bought with a $500 free ticket code that was leaked at the end of last week are invalid. Action Network reports that the code, which automatically deducted $500 per transaction, was used over and over again for at least an hour last Friday. Users that inputted the code MLB1 or MLB2 were …
MSG’s Las Vegas Sphere venue sees further building cost increase
Madison Square Garden Entertainment’s (MSG Entertainment) highly anticipated Las Vegas Sphere venue is set to cost $2.3bn (£1.8bn/€2.1bn), after the company reported a cost increase of a further $125m. According to reports, documents showcasing the $125m increase were filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday (Wednesday). The Sphere at The Venetian’s current …
Co-op Live signs up with European Arenas Association
Co-op Live has become the latest member to join the European Arenas Association (EAA). The Oak View Group-operated arena, which will be the UK’s largest indoor live entertainment venue when it opens in December, is the fifth new member since EAA set out its realigned vision in 2021. It now has 37 members in total, …