Industry News

Ticketmaster sprints towards Glasgow 2018 contract

Ticketmaster will help organisers of the Glasgow 2018 European Championships set up a face-value ticket exchange to deter resellers, should to be selected to serve as the official ticketing agent for the multi-sport event.

The ticketing agent has been chosen as the preferred bidder by organisers and will be in line to sell £2.9m ($3.6m/€3.9m) worth of tickets for the inaugural event.However, it must still be approved by Glasgow City Council’s Executive Committee later this week.

The 2018 European Championships will combine the existing European Championships of aquatics, athletics, cycling, gymnastics, rowing and triathlon and a new team golf event. It will be shared between host cities Glasgow and Berlin.

Event bosses revealed yesterday that they will not allow any to be diverted to ‘secondary ticketing’ sites – and Ticketmaster, if selected, will play a role in achieving that goal.

“Glasgow 2018 will not enter the secondary market regarding ticket resale,” a spokesman told the Daily Record newspaper. “The lead ticket agent will work with Glasgow 2018 to devise a policy to accommodate ticket exchange – and, if necessary, ticket resale – at face value via the primary market place.”

According to Glasgow 2018 organisers, Ticketmaster has also agreed to recruit up to four new entrants via community benefits to work in ticket selling box offices for the event. It also pledged to contribute £5,000 to support community initiatives within the city, which could come in the form of subsidising tickets for schoolchildren.

According to InsideTheGames, a Glasgow 2018 spokesperson said:  “We can confirm that Ticketmaster has been named as the preferred bidder for Lead Ticketing Agent services, following a competitive tendering process.”

“Glasgow 2018 will be a new highlight on the global sporting calendar building on the undoubted success of Scotland’s international events programme in recent years.

“We are looking forward to welcoming some of the world’s top athletes to venues across Glasgow and Scotland for what will be a sensational summer of sport.”