Ed Sheeran’s Stade de France gig next year will use SecuTix blockchain technology to aid in the singer’s crusade against ticket scalping.
Sheeran will be playing two nights at the stadium in Paris and to help with the added security, tickets will be delivered to fans using SecuTix blockchain technology. The TIXnGO mobile digital application helps to eliminate fraud and was successfully used during the postponed 2020 UEFA Euro championships.
The system works by using blockchain to create an encrypted and unique ticket for smartphones that is traceable. This aids in removing the risk of counterfeit tickets as well as making it easier for fans to transfer or resell tickets securely and safely.
SecuTix chief operating officer Christian Binelli said: “Blockchain is a powerful technology in the fight to protect fans from the secondary ticketing market and we’d encourage more venues and promoters to consider using it.
“We’ve proved it works at scale at huge sporting events, such as Euro 2020, and now the music industry has recognised its potential.
“We’re proud to help Stade de France and Ed Sheeran ensure that his fans pay a fair price for tickets and that fans have the opportunity to experience a full digital journey until the moment they enjoy the unique emotion of his live concert.”
Ticket holders will be able to use the app to download their tickets, transfer, keep or assign a guest to a ticket. For Ed Sheeran concerts during the Mathematics tour, fans are only able to buy up to six tickets and have to attend the concert with the original buyer of the ticket to further cut out ticket touts.
The rule of six means that bots are unable to buy hundreds of tickets as they will be cut off.
The app will integrate with Stade de France’s digital ecosystem including S-360 from SecuTix, which is a ticketing engagement platform. The system will aggregate all tickets sold through the tour’s retail partners and deliver them to the buyer’s smartphone using the Stade de France branded blockchain app.
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