Industry News

Tickets.ie hails Cork GAA launch

Tickets.ie is celebrating after a completing a successful first weekend of delivery at the reopened Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium in Cork.

The official ticketing partner of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) sold and processed 60,000 tickets for two days of play at the refurbished 45,000-capacity stadium. The operator had just 12 days’ advance notice of fixtures ahead of the weekend of July 22-23.

Tickets.ie, Ireland’s largest independent ticket operator, said it worked with the GAA for several months in preparation for the reopening, as new seating manifests were built, a new access control system was installed and sales of all types were made in advance of the match days. Tickets.ie’s access control system was installed in Páirc Uí Chaoimh with scanning available in all the more than 50 turnstiles and at designated entry points.

Online sales were via Tickets.ie and the GAA’s own white label sites, with retail sales via Tickets.ie’s 370-outlet network. Nearly 3,000 GAA season-ticket holders from the competing teams were managed using Tickets.ie’s season ticket functionality.

“Tickets.ie would like to congratulate the GAA on the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh, a magnificent venue for a great sporting city and we look forward to many more great days on the banks of the River Lee,” said John O’Neill, Tickets.ie’s chief executive.

Earlier this month Tickets.ie announced bold plans to expand on the international market through an investment round worth potentially €3m (£2.6m/$3.4m).

SeatFair, the company’s new project set to be trialled later this year, will receive €1.5m of the Dublin-based Tickets.ie’s own capital.

While most of the firm’s current €18.5m revenue comes from Ireland, its new investment will likely help push its software into the international market.

IMAGE: Pedersen Focus