New York’s The Capitol Theatre has defended its decision to replace Eventbrite-owned Ticketfly with Ticketmaster as its ticketing partner after a backlash from disgruntled fans.
The 1,800-capacity venue announced the change earlier this week, which many fans responded to with anger across social media.
The Capitol said in its announcement on Facebook: “In November of 2018, it was announced that Eventbrite would shut down Ticketfly and move customers to their new platform, Eventbrite Music. While Eventbrite offers reserved seating functionality, the moment presented a point in time for us to reassess our ticketing partner.
“We are proud to be Ticketfly’s first customer ever, and The Capitol Theatre was the first reserved seated venue they ever ticketed. This is a bittersweet moment for us.
“After exploring various options, the results gave us a clear line of sight to move to Ticketmaster, the industry’s most proven and reliable ticketing platform. We believe you will benefit from a curated fan experience, strong customer service, and the ability to transfer tickets to friends and family.”
Fans lashed out in the comments section, with one fan saying: “The Cap is hands down my favourite indoor venue. I’ve seen so many great shows and had so many great memories. Too bad that is all over. Ticketmaster will never get a dime of my money. Guess I’ve seen my last show at the Cap.”
Another said: “Now your regularly priced tickets will see “platinum level” jumps, asinine service fees and push your loyal fan bases right out.”
The Capitol Theatre responded in the comments: “To everyone who is feeling disappointed and frustrated, we hear your concerns and we want you to know that we are excited about the future of The Cap.
“We are continuing to grow because of you, our dedicated fans, who keep coming out to see the shows and the friendly staff you know and love. With growth, comes the need for a more powerful platform to sell and manage tickets and keep your data safe. We will continue to bring you your favourite artists, the same smiling faces at the door and behind the scenes, and the same Cap vibe you know and love.”
It added that the venue will not charge any service fees on any tickets purchased with cash at the Cap Box Office. Tickets purchased using a credit or debit card will have a service fee of $2 for Cap shows and $1 for Garcia’s shows.
Image: David Joyce
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