AudienceView Lands New Contract

By Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen - TicketNews.com

Toronto-based ticket solutions provider AudienceView, already ticketing the University of Minnesota’s Arts department activities, has now picked up the university’s Golden Gopher athletic events, which includes 25 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams in the Big Ten Conference and Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Ticket sales started August 15 at the box office, online, and by phone.

“We believe that our partnership with AudienceView will help the University of Minnesota develop an integrated approach to ticketing and servicing our stakeholders,” Tom Wistrcill, associate athletic director at the University of Minnesota, said in a prepared statement.

“AudienceView has tremendous expertise as well as a strong vision of the future that will help us stay ahead in the ever-changing ticketing industry.” . . .

The University’s sports facilities include more than a dozen arenas, stadiums, and venues including the 65,000-seat Metrodome, home of Golden Gopher Football. In 2009, the team will move to the new TCF Bank Stadium being built on campus. Other venues include the 14,000-seat Williams Arena, the 10,000-seat Mariucci Arena, and the 3,400-seat Ridder Arena. Its arts venues include The Northrop Auditorium, Rarig Center, and Ted Mann Concert Hall.

“We realize the importance of an integrated, powerful solution for a client like the University of Minnesota,” Kevin Kimsa, CEO of the five-year-old AudienceView, said in a prepared statement. With more than 80 clients, the company’s solutions are used in more than 120 venues in North America, the U.K. and Asia. In addition, AudienceView also recently tapped former Ticketmaster CEO Fred Rosen as its new chairman.

“With both arts and athletics now live, we look forward to continuing to provide the University with everything they need to provide successful ticketing and customer-focused experiences for their customers,” Kimsa added.