Asia

Adelaide venue targets major touring acts through new Ticketek deal

Adelaide Festival Centre (AFC), one of Australia’s leading venues, is looking to enhance its events programme after naming TEG-owned Ticketek as its new ticketing provider.

AFC, which already welcomes more than one million visitors per year to its numerous theatres, is targeting major shows touring nationally and internationally through its new partner’s vast Australasian networks.

The centre said it chose to replace existing provider BASS due to technological advancements in ticketing that are available through Ticketek and the impact of Covid.

It added that current permanent and temporary staff at BASS will be offered employment at Ticketek’s Adelaide office and casuals will be offered employment with Ticketek’s casual staffing pool.

Douglas Gautier, AFC chief executive and artistic director, said the new partnership would lead to a better service for patrons and opportunities to present even more large-scale shows in South Australia.

He said: “We are excited about what this partnership means for the future of live entertainment in South Australia, particularly the opportunity to attract even more great shows for our valued patrons at Adelaide Festival Centre.

“We are pleased our ticketing staff will be able to continue to use their fine skills through this collaboration and I want to acknowledge and thank all current and past BASS colleagues for their outstanding service to our audiences over many years.

“As South Australia’s leading performing arts and entertainment organisation, this partnership will make it even easier for patrons to access events at our venues, as we continue to present an enhanced year-round program of shows and festivals and support the great work of SA home-companies and artists.”

AFC stages theatre, dance, music, and exhibitions at its multiple arenas, including Her Majesty’s Theatre, Festival Theatre, Dunstan Playhouse and Space Theatre. It presents and produces a year-round program of festivals including Adelaide Cabaret Festival, OzAsia Festival, DreamBIG Children’s Festival and Adelaide Guitar Festival.

Geoff Jones, chief executive of TEG, said: “We are looking forward to bringing Ticketek’s world-leading ticketing technology to Adelaide Festival Centre’s venues and their faithful patrons. We put fans and innovation at the heart of everything we do. As such we will bring exciting innovations to the centre, making it easier than ever to access great shows.”