Ticketmaster Access Control Systems now in Place at Speedways; Providing Barcode Ticketing and Point-of-Entry Validation as New Benefits for Race Fans
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Aug. 20 /PRESS RELEASE/ — Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI) has launched Ticketmaster’s TicketExchange as the authorized ticket resale service for race events at each of the six Speedway facilities nationwide. The resale service has launched at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV; Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, TX; Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN; Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, NC; and Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA.
Through each speedway-authorized TicketExchange, season ticket holders who are unable to attend race events, may visit the TicketExchange section of Ticketmaster.com and post their tickets for resale to other fans.
Fans who purchase tickets through TicketExchange receive a brand new ticket complete with a new and unique barcode identifying the buyer as the new owner of that ticket. The TicketExchange transaction is entirely automated and processed by Ticketmaster, the recognized and trusted brand for event ticketing.
In addition, all six SMI facilities have also installed Ticketmaster’s state-of-the-art AccessManager system featuring barcode ticketing and point- of-entry ticket validation technology. The speedway’s new entry control systems enable each facility to monitor the entry process, validate tickets in real time, and expedite patrons’ entry into the speedway. The system reads a unique barcode printed on every ticket and in real-time indicates the validity of the ticket, helping to deter counterfeiting and fraud. Race fans who purchase tickets by phone or online or through TicketExchange may select to have their tickets delivered electronically via TicketFast(R), Ticketmaster’s online ticket delivery service.
“Since deploying Ticketmaster’s ticketing technology to our six Speedways in 2004, our fans have realized a significant increase in the ease and convenience of purchasing tickets,” said Marcus G. Smith, executive vice president of national sale and marketing for Speedway Motorsports, Inc. “AccessManager extends that level of customer service from the purchase process right up to arriving at the facility on race day or reselling the ticket to another fan if unable to attend. Operationally, these new programs enable us to provide better overall service to our customers.”
Smith added, “The ability to help our guests move through the entry process quickly and the ability for us to track and analyze that entry data is invaluable to us across multiple areas of our business. Our gate attendants are extremely pleased with Ticketmaster’s new lightweight and easy to use handheld scanning devices.”
“Speedway Motorsports has a large and loyal fan base of season subscribers who deserve the best possible convenience when purchasing tickets and attending racing events and that includes the right and the ability to resell their tickets,” said Neal Gunn, Sr. VP Venue Relations. “We’re pleased to deploy TicketExchange as the Speedway’s authorized resale service and provide race fans with the immediate benefit of faster and easier entry and the security of an authorized resale service for each track.”
Ticketmaster will continue to serve as the authorized ticketing provider for all six SMI speedways and will continue to facilitate advance and onsite permanent seating tickets, suite ticketing, special ticket packages, group ticketing and more on behalf of:
— Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, GA – atlantamotorspeedway.com
— Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN – bristolmotorspeedway.com
— Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA – infineonraceway.com
— Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV – lvms.com
— Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, NC – lowesmotorspeedway.com
— Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, TX – texasmotorspeedway.com
Ticketmaster also provides the speedways with local and national sales and marketing distribution and customer communication programs; results of which will be integrated with the new AccessManager systems to provide SMI and each speedway with a more thorough understanding of their individual and collective audiences to help drive their overall ticketing business.
About Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster is the world’s leading ticketing company, operating in 20 global markets, providing ticket sales, ticket resale services, marketing and distribution through www.ticketmaster.com, one of the largest e-commerce sites on the Internet; approximately 6,500 retail outlets; and 20 worldwide call centers. Ticketmaster celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2006 and currently serves more than 9,000 clients worldwide across multiple event categories, providing exclusive ticketing services for hundreds of leading arenas, stadiums, performing arts venues, museums, and theaters. In 2006, the company sold more than 128 million tickets valued at over $7 billion on behalf of its clients. Ticketmaster is headquartered in West Hollywood, California and is an operating business of IAC .
About Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lowe’s Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. The Company provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiary, and manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars through its 600 Racing subsidiary. The Company also owns Performance Racing Network which broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to over 710 radio stations nationwide. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.gospeedway.com.
