Industry News

SportStadion drives Motorsport Network expansion

Motorsport Network has expanded its international ticketing and experiences platform, Motorsport Experiences, with the addition of Dutch operator SportStadion.

The acquisition, which comes soon after Motorsport Network acquired BookF1.com, includes SportStadion’s CRM database, which will provide Motorsport Network with new cross-selling opportunities while adding critical mass in ticketing and experiential events in the Netherlands.

Under the agreement with SportStadion, there is also the introduction of an official relationship with Belgian-Dutch F1 driver Max Verstappen.

Following the BookF1 and SportStadion acquisitions, Motorsport Network said it will now provide a range of Motorsport Experiences services from ticketing and travel to bespoke opportunities, including wholly managed fan villages, campsites, grandstands and appearances from race drivers. Motorsport Network has ticketing operations in 21 markets, as well as being able to communicate with fans in 17 languages.

SportStadion chief executive and shareholder, Stefan van den Berg, who will remain with the business and will assist with the growth and development, said: “Adding SportStadion to Motorsport Experiences will allow us to accelerate the delivery of new fan engagement products and services internationally, drawn both from our long experience and of course the insight of our new partners in the group.

“If we connect these great opportunities for racing fans to the biggest motorsport audience in the world, then I believe we will all benefit from the power of the ‘Network’ effect.”

In addition to the ticketing and travel packages offered by Motorsport Experiences, its fan-focused services include premium motorsport content courtesy of Motorsport.tv, Motorsport.com Prime, Autosport.com Plus and MotorsportImages.com.

James Allen, president of Motorsport Network, said: “This acquisition of SportStadion is another vivid example of our unique convening power within motorsport. 17,500 Dutch fans travelling to Austria speaks for itself. The developing Motorsport Experiences business compliments our media platform and is proof positive of our intent to build the very best and most comprehensive set of services for racing fans to access the sport they love.

“Motorsport Experiences promises to be the cornerstone of our experiential offer and we are growing it with the highest calibre of businesses.”

Image: Artes Max