Organisers of the 2019 Davis Cup, which kicks off in just over a week, said ticket sales have been growing at an average of 11 per cent each week and predicts a last-minute influx due to the nature of Spanish ticket-buyers.
The news comes as organiser Kosmos – the investment firm which was co-founded by Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique – announced it has partnered with ticket distribution firm Onebox for 2019 and 2020.
A Kosmos spokesperson told TheTicketingBusiness.com that it decided to partner with the Spanish ticketing company because it allows the organisers to integrate different sales channels to sell tickets, including through Stubhub, Marcaentradas, Entradas.com and Atrap.
Adding that Onebox is the first ticketing platform in Spain that allows multi-channel integration, as well as boasting a multi-language platform, which was essential for the Davis Cup.
“We wanted our platform to have a shopping cart so that clients could purchase different sessions on the same purchase. We wanted a dedicated staff to help us out with all our needs 24/7,” Kosmos said.
Onebox’s chief executive and founder, Carlos Galí, said: “What the organiser of the event seeks is to have a more direct relationship with its consumer / user and for this it is essential to be able to sell tickets from its own website, enter the money from these sales as they are produced, meet their viewers, both at the level of personal data and their consumption habits, and be able to communicate directly with them.”
The revamped Davis Cup will take place at the Caja Mágica in Madrid between November 18-24, featuring 18 international teams.
Kosmos has pledged to invest £2.3bn in the tournament over 25 years.
Javier Alonso, chief executive of Kosmos Tennis, told TheTicketingBusiness.com that, despite reports of challenges of shifting tickets for morning sessions, they have noticed a “notable increase in ticket sales,” since it kicked off its marketing and communication campaign.
Daily ticket sales have totalled 4,000 and sales are increasing weekly at an average of 11 per cent, with fans from Spain, Great Britain, Italy and Chile showing the most interest.
Tickets for Spain’s two group stage ties are sold out, while more than 75 per cent of available tickets have been sold for a number of other sessions – including the opening tie on Centre Court on November 18 between Croatia and Russia. Both of Great Britain’s group stage ties and the Davis Cup Final on November 24 have been sold out, while 13 other sessions have shifted at least 50 per cent of the available tickets.
Alonso told TheTicketingBusiness.com: “We are very happy with the ticket sales. Since we started with the entire marketing and communication campaign, we have noticed a notable increase in ticket sales.
“Nominations day was a great day for sales. Confirming the presence of players like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, all of whom will lead their teams in Madrid, was an exciting moment for the competition and showed that the Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals will be an experience that tennis fans do not want to miss.
“Ticket sales are growing at an average rate of 11 per cent weekly. We have a lot of experience in organising major sporting events and we know that Spain is a country where most of the purchases are made at the last moment. We are confident that tickets will continue to sell and that many more sessions will sell out.”
Onebox also announced a new deal with Spanish LaLiga football club Real Madrid, with the firm now responsible for 80 per cent of online ticket transactions in the top division of Spanish football.
Image: Roman Boed