PRESS RELEASE: “Ticketmaster Begins Beta Launch of New Interactive Seat Maps on Ticketmaster.com”
LOS ANGELES, CA (Business Wire) December 14, 2009 – Ticketmaster, a Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: TKTM) operating business, has begun beta testing their new online Interactive Seat Maps for the San Antonio Spurs, Edmonton Oilers, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Marquette University Basketball @ Bradley Center, Rochester Americans, Iowa State Cyclones, as well as select events at the Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie, Heymann Performing Arts Center and more via Ticketmaster.com. With the introduction of Interactive Seat Maps, Ticketmaster is introducing an upgraded interactive ticket-buying experience that empowers consumers to explore, customize, view and purchase based on their individual or group needs.
Interactive Seat Maps redefine “best available” by letting fans navigate and choose from all available seats and configurations. Where traditional “best available” searches have relied on computers to search availability one row at a time, the upgraded maps enable everyone from an individual looking for the seat closest to the floor or stage — to a group of friends looking for tickets next to, in-front of, across the aisle, in-back of, or a few seats apart from one another — the ability to choose how and where they sit.
“Over the last two years, we’ve set out to take our nearly 15 years of research and experience with Ticketmaster.com and page-by-page build a new and enhanced model for our clients and consumers to buy and sell their event tickets. Interactive Seat Maps are a culmination of these efforts,” said Brian Pike, Chief Technology Officer of Ticketmaster. “In the first few days, we’re encouraged by the number of fans exploring and embracing the new technology and we’re already seeing some excited new changes in how they’re choosing to buy tickets.”
“Ticketmaster’s new, leading-edge interactive seat maps are an excellent tool for us to support our mission of catering to customers,” said Maloof Sports & Entertainment Senior Vice President of Business Operations John Rinehart. “We have an ongoing commitment to seeking out new and innovative means by which we can enhance the ticket-buying experience for our customers, and Ticketmaster’s interactive seat map certainly fits that criteria. We are thrilled to be among the first Ticketmaster clients to offer this unique interactive experience to our great fans.”
“This is a major step in improving the fan experience of buying a ticket online,” said Kip Levin, Ticketmaster’s Senior Vice President of Product & Digital. “Ticket buyers can now choose from all available seats and highlight seats by the price range they want to spend or by the type of specials and packages being offered by the artist, team or show. They can also pick seats from the exact location they prefer, pick groups of seats that aren’t all in the same row, or buy single tickets that might be separated only by an aisle or row — all options that have not been available until now.”
Searches start with a view of the venue’s entire seat map and by scrolling over rows and sections quick seat summaries and availability are displayed; fans then highlight and select the seat(s) of their choice to purchase. Additionally, with features like zoom in and zoom out or by clicking on search filters including price range, quantity, special promotions and discounts offered by some events, fans can pinpoint the best up-to-the-minute tickets. Although still in initial beta testing, Ticketmaster plans to roll-out the new maps continually throughout the upcoming year.
Fans can explore and demo the new maps at www.ticketmaster.com/interactiveseatmap
Media can stream or embed a quick tutorial video at http://www.youtube.com/user/TicketmasterLive
About Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc.
Ticketmaster Entertainment consists of Ticketmaster and Front Line Management Group. As the world’s leading live entertainment ticketing and marketing company based on the number of tickets sold, Ticketmaster connects the world to live entertainment. Ticketmaster operates 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 7,100 retail outlets; and 17 worldwide call centers. Established in 1976, Ticketmaster serves more than 10,000 clients worldwide across multiple event categories, providing exclusive ticketing services for leading arenas, stadiums, professional sports franchises and leagues, college sports teams, performing arts venues, museums, and theaters. In 2008, the Company sold more than 141 million tickets valued at over $8.9 billion on behalf of its clients. Ticketmaster Entertainment acquired a controlling interest in Front Line Management Group in October 2008. Founded by Irving Azoff and Howard Kaufman in 2004, Front Line Management Group is the world’s leading artist management company. Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. is headquartered in West Hollywood, California (NASDAQ:TKTM).
This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to the Company’s anticipated financial performance, business prospects, new developments and similar matters, and/or statements that use words such as “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes” and similar expressions. As such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including those risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s pending merger with Live Nation; the Company’s ability to operate effectively as a public company following its recent spin-off from IAC; changes in economic conditions generally or in the live entertainment industry; the ability of the Company to retain existing clients and obtain new clients; Ticketmaster’s ability to maintain Ticketmaster’s brand recognition and attract and retain customers in a cost-effective manner; integration of historical and future acquisitions, including the Front Line acquisition; the Company’s ability to expand successfully in international markets; changing customer requirements and industry standards; regulatory changes; and the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports, including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, each as it may be amended from time to time. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release, except as required by law.
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Contact:
Ticketmaster
Hannah Kampf, +1-310-360-2434
[email protected]
