34,000 locked in Disneyland Shanghai over single positive COVID-19 case

Some 34,000 Shanghai Disney Resort visitors were locked in the park to be tested and told to isolate after reports of a single COVID-19 case. A visitor to Shanghai’s Disneyland on Saturday returned home and later tested positive for coronavirus. The theme park was closed and rides halted as workers arrived to begin testing.  Disneyland …

Further boost for grassroots music venues

Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents grassroots music venues in the UK, and ticketing company Ticketmaster have agreed that venues will receive a 50% rebate on all booking fees.  More money will land in the pockets of grassroots venues as they seek recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to a change in the partnership between …

Las Vegas-based LuvSeats closes $1.5m seed round

LuvSeats, a Las Vegas-based event ticketing company, has recently closed a $1.5m (£1.1m/€1.2m) seed round of investment funding.  The round was led by co-founders Les and Darcy Silver (pictured).  LuvSeats, however, did not disclose the terms of the capital raise, though notable personal investors include investment firm FM Capital’s Chase Fraser, and Ernie Pomerantz, the …

Coachella promoter Goldenvoice signs operator deal with Empire Polo Club

AEG Presents-owned concert promoter and live entertainment company Goldenvoice has assumed operations of the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, which is home to the promoter’s Coachella Valley Arts and Music Festival.  Goldenvoice will have year-round operational control over Empire Polo Club, with the 642-acre site acting as the home of Coachella since 1999.  It …

YellowHeart launches NFT ticketing mobile app

YellowHeart, an NFT (non-fungible token) ticketing and blockchain collectibles marketplace, has launched its own NFT ticketing mobile app, YellowHeart Wallet.  Users will be connected to YellowHeart’s Web3 Ethereum-based NFT ticketing platform and marketplace. Ethereum is a decentralised, open-source blockchain and powers the cryptocurrency Ether, which is the second most popular cryptocurrency behind Bitcoin.  The Wallet …

Live Nation launches Live Stubs NFTs

Live entertainment company Live Nation will be offering fans the chance to own digital collectible NFT (non-fungible tokens) ticket stubs, called Live Stubs, for a select number of its North America shows.  Live Nation will deliver the first-ever Live Stubs digital collectible NFTs for fans buying tickets for the upcoming Swedish House Mafia: Paradise Again …

Formula 1 extends hospitality partnership

Formula 1 has announced a multi-year extension to its partnership with QuintEvents, a sports and event ticket and packages company.  QuintEvents offers fan packages and trackside hospitality for the motorsport franchise through F1 Experiences, the name of the partnership.  F1 Experiences started at the beginning of the 2017 season and provides fans with packages that …

UEFA seeks new ticketing customer services partner

Europe’s football governing body UEFA is looking for a new company or companies to partner with between 2022 and 2025 in a ticketing customer services role.  UEFA is seeking one or more companies to provide ticketing customer services for the Champions League final, the Europa League final, the Super Cup and the Europa Conference League …

Dublin’s Aviva Stadium given designated status under new ticketing act

The Aviva Stadium in Dublin has been confirmed as a designated venue under Ireland’s Sale of Tickets Act 2021.  This means that all rugby and football games that take place at the stadium will be covered by the new bill, with the new designated status coming into effect yesterday (Thursday).  The Sale of Tickets Act …