PRESS RELEASE: “New Ticketing System for Richmond’s Landmark Theater and Richmond CenterStage Including Carpenter Theatre”

Richmond, VA (Etix) June 30, 2011 – Representatives from Richmond’s Landmark Theater and Richmond CenterStage including the Carpenter Theatre announce a new ticketing system for upcoming performances and events. Etix, an international web-based ticketing company, was awarded the contract and will take over the ticket sales for both venues on Thursday June 30th at midnight. From this time forward customers can purchase tickets directly from www.Etix.com instead of tickemaster.com. Etix is expanding its presence in Virginia as they already handle the ticketing for the State Fair of Virginia, Virginia International Raceway, Hat Factory concert venue in Richmond, Powhatan’s Festival of The Grape and Virginia Highlands Festival, among others.

A RFP (request for proposal) was released in February of this year as the end of a three year contract with Ticketmaster was approaching. Seven companies submitted proposals for consideration and after analysis the representatives of the venues reached a decision.

“Ticketmaster has served us, our resident companies of Richmond CenterStage and our patrons well,” said Dolly Vogt, Regional General Manager – SMG Richmond, “but we needed to think about what was best for our venues and our patrons. Because ticketing is such an important part of the financial model for a public facility we were looking for financial benefits, customer benefits and services that gave us more control over the process. Etix was able to meet our criteria while offering a comparable ticketing fee scale to that of the current ticketing system.”

With Etix consumers will be able to purchase tickets directly from both venue’s websites; www.LandmarkTheater.net and www.RichmondCenterStage.com in addition to the company’s website www.Etix.com. The toll free number for Etix is 1-800-514-3849 (ETIX) and is open seven days a week for uninterrupted customer service availability.

The new Etix ticketing system will also apply to most presenting and producing resident companies at both CenterStage and Richmond Landmark Theater. The producing companies include: Richmond Symphony, Richmond Ballet, Virginia Opera, African American Repertory Theatre, Barksdale Theatre/Theatre IV, Elegba Folklore Society, Richmond Shakespeare, Henley Street Theatre Company, and SPARC (School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community). Presenting resident companies include Modlin Center, Richmond Forum, City of Richmond Parks and Recreation, and Broadway In Richmond 2011 – 2012 Season which highlights the return of WICKED and the premiere of Disney’s THE LION KING.

“We are excited about the new partnership with Etix and all the benefits that this relationship will bring to our patrons. The more revenue we generate means less fees placed on our citizens and patrons while supporting our goal of bringing more quality entertainment and facility improvements,” declared Vogt.

“We’re honored to become the ticketing partner for the Landmark Theater and Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage,” said Travis Janovich, Etix CEO. “We have many clients across Virginia, but these two esteemed venues are truly unique. We feel confident that consumers will find a seamless transition and – more importantly – an easier way to purchase tickets.” Etix, founded in 2000 and based in Morrisville, NC, is the largest independent ticketing company in North America and has 7300 accounts world-wide with offices in China, Holland, Germany, Japan, Austria and in the United States, has offices in Nashville and just west of Raleigh in Morrisville.

Ticketmaster will continue its services at the Richmond Coliseum.

For additional comments or questions, please contact Cindy Creasy Woolfolk at (804) 257-3096

ABOUT ETIX
Etix is an international web-based ticketing service provider for the entertainment, travel and sports industries, and operates in 40 countries on four continents. Etix is the largest independent ticketing company in North America and provides secure access control ticketing infrastructure solutions, ticket marketing services, and robust ecommerce fulfillment capabilities. Etix has 7,300 clients including venues, arenas, festivals, fairs, performing arts centers, and multi-use facilities. Founded in 2000, Etix is based just west of Raleigh in Morrisville, NC with offices in China, Holland, Germany, Japan, Austria and Nashville, TN. For more information, visit www.etix.com.

ABOUT CENTERSTAGE
A world-class performing arts facility located in the heart of Richmond on Grace Street between 6th and 7th streets, Richmond CenterStage includes the fully-renovated, 82-year-old, nearly 1,800-seat Carpenter Theatre. In addition, CenterStage offers guests and performers three separate venues: the multi-use space Rhythm Hall; the intimate Gottwald Playhouse; and Showcase Gallery, for exhibition of the visual arts. The Genworth BrightLights Education Center, located on the third floor, promotes arts in education to the region’s K-12 students. Also included in CenterStage’s venues is the Landmark Theater, which is located in the heart of Richmond’s historic Fan District at 6. N. Laurel Street.

ABOUT SMG RICHMOND
SMG Richmond manages Richmond’s Landmark Theater, Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage and the Richmond Coliseum. Since 1977, SMG has provided management services to more than 220 public assembly facilities worldwide, including arenas, stadiums, theatres and performing arts centers, equestrian facilities, convention, congress and exhibition centers, science centers, and a variety of other venues. Across the globe, SMG manages more than 12 million square feet (1.1 million square meters) of exhibition space and more than 1.5 million arena and theatre seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering company SAVOR, currently serving more than 83 accounts worldwide.

Contact:
Cindy Creasy
(804) 257-3096
[email protected]

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