Yes, Ticketmaster does operate in several European countries. While Ticketmaster originated in the United States, the company has expanded internationally over the years. Today, Ticketmaster has a presence in at least 8 European countries.
Ticketmaster Operations in Europe
Here is an overview of some of the major European countries where Ticketmaster has a presence:
- United Kingdom – Ticketmaster UK operates as a subsidiary of Ticketmaster International, selling tickets for events across the UK.
- Ireland – Ticketmaster Ireland serves both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
- Germany – Ticketmaster Germany (Ticketmaster.de) sells tickets across Germany.
- Spain – Ticketmaster Spain (Ticketmaster.es) serves the Spanish market.
- Italy – Geticket is Ticketmaster’s operation in Italy.
- Norway – Ticketmaster Norway (Ticketmaster.no) operates in the Norwegian market.
- Sweden – Ticketmaster Sweden (Ticketmaster.se) serves the Swedish events market.
- Netherlands – Ticketmaster Netherlands (Ticketmaster.nl) operates in the Dutch market.
In addition to these countries, Ticketmaster also has operations in Denmark, Finland, France, and Turkey. So in total, Ticketmaster has a presence in at least 15 European countries as of 2023.
How Ticketmaster Operates in Europe
While Ticketmaster’s operations vary somewhat by country, their basic business model is the same across Europe:
- They sell tickets online and over the phone for concerts, sports events, theater shows, and other live entertainment events.
- They often have exclusive partnerships with major venues, promoters, sports teams, and artists to sell tickets for their events.
- They charge convenience fees and other service charges on top of the ticket price.
- They own or operate large ticket resale marketplaces where tickets are resold at market-driven prices.
However, there are some key differences in how Ticketmaster operates in Europe vs North America:
- In Europe they rarely have exclusive ticketing deals across a whole country – deals are more venue or promoter specific.
- Service fees are generally lower than in North America.
- They rely more heavily on partnerships with existing ticket agencies and vendors in each country.
- Their market share is generally lower than in the US and their position is more contested by rivals.
Ticketmaster’s Biggest European Markets
Here is an overview of some of Ticketmaster’s largest European country operations:
United Kingdom
The UK is Ticketmaster’s largest market in Europe. They sell tickets for major venues like The O2 Arena and Wembley Stadium in London. They are the dominant ticketing provider for the Premier League football clubs. They also sell tickets for large festivals like Glastonbury and Reading/Leeds Festivals.
Ireland
Ireland is one of Ticketmaster’s stronger markets in Europe. They are the exclusive ticket seller for Ireland’s largest stadiums. They sell tickets for most major concerts by international artists in Ireland.
Spain
Ticketmaster Spain has a very strong presence. They sell tickets for high-profile football clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona. They are the exclusive ticketing provider for many venues and festivals.
Germany
While some key venues in Germany use other ticketing platforms, Ticketmaster still sells tickets for many major concerts and events in the country. They have a ticketing partnership with Eventim, a large German entertainment company.
Italy
Geticket is a major player in Italy’s ticketing market. Geticket sells tickets for concerts by artists touring Italy. They also work with football clubs like AC Milan and Inter Milan for ticketing.
How Ticketmaster Entered the European Market
Ticketmaster began expanding into Europe in the mid-1990s by acquiring existing ticket sellers in various countries. Here are some key acquisitions and partnerships they used to enter the European market:
- 1994 – Partnered with Irish ticket agency Ticket Shop to create Ticketmaster Ireland.
- 1996 – Acquired TMCS Ltd to establish Ticketmaster UK.
- 1996 – Partnered with Ticket Corner to launch Ticketmaster Switzerland.
- 1997 – Bought a controlling stake in Geticket Scandinavia to enter Nordic markets.
- 1998 – Acquired Ticket Express in the Netherlands to create Ticketmaster Netherlands.
- 1999 – Partnered with Lippupiste to launch Ticketmaster Finland.
- 2002 – Acquired T.O.S.C. to establish Ticketmaster Germany.
- 2002 – Bought Way Ahead to expand Ticketmaster UK.
- 2003 – Partnered with Billetnet to launch Ticketmaster France.
- 2008 – Acquired T.O.S.C.’s distribution network to expand Ticketmaster Germany.
- 2010 – Bought Ticketworld Holdings Ltd to grow Ticketmaster Ireland.
Through this strategy of acquisition and partnership, Ticketmaster successfully gained a foothold in most major European ticketing markets during the 90s and 2000s.
Comparisons Between Ticketmaster’s US and European Operations
While Ticketmaster maintains leading positions in both North America and Europe, there are some key differences between their operations in these two regions:
North America | Europe | |
---|---|---|
Market position | Dominant – Approx. 70% market share | Significant but more contested – Approx. 25-45% market share by country |
Deals and partnerships | Many exclusive long-term deals across whole live entertainment industry | More venue/promoter specific deals rather than nationwide exclusives |
Brand awareness | Very high brand recognition in US and Canada | Varies more by country, lower overall awareness than US |
Service fees | Higher – Can be 20-30%+ of ticket price | Lower – Typically 10-20% of ticket price |
Resellers | Large secondary market – Owns TicketsNow resale site | Smaller secondary market – No equivalent to TicketsNow |
So while Ticketmaster is a major ticketing player on both continents, their operations vary considerably between the two markets.
Major Competitors in European Ticketing Market
While Ticketmaster is dominant in some European countries, they also face significant competition across Europe. Some of their major competitors include:
- CTS Eventim – Leading ticketing company in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and several Eastern European countries.
- SeeTickets – Large UK-based ticketing company owned by Vivendi’s Digitick division.
- Eventbrite – Major independent ticketing platform with operations across Europe.
- AXS – Digital ticketing company with a presence in the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and other European markets.
- GUTS Tickets – Innovative Dutch blockchain-based ticketing platform.
- France Billet – Major ticketing operation in France.
In addition, many venues, concert promoters, and football clubs in Europe operate their own in-house ticketing systems. So Ticketmaster faces much more contention for ticketing deals compared to their dominant position in the US.
Challenges Ticketmaster Faces in the European Market
While Ticketmaster has successfully established itself as a major ticketing vendor in Europe, they still face some unique challenges in the European marketplace:
- Each country has different norms, regulations, languages, and ticketing requirements.
- Europeans have more concerns over high ticket fees compared to US consumers.
- Exclusive long-term ticketing deals are harder to obtain.
- Promoters and venues are often loyal to their existing ticketing providers.
- Rivalry is fierce as local European ticketing companies defend their turf.
Ticketmaster also faces growing backlash in Europe against their dominance of live entertainment ticketing. Critics argue their practices limit consumer choice and drive up fees. For example, major UK concerts and festivals have dropped Ticketmaster in recent years.
How Ticketmaster Adapts for Each European Market
Ticketmaster recognizes that each European country represents a unique ticketing environment. Here are some ways they tailor their approach in different European markets:
- They operate under different brand names in some countries.
- They form strategic partnerships with existing ticketing companies when entering new markets.
- Their websites and apps are customized to the local language, currency, and payment methods.
- They adjust their fee structures based on what each market can bear.
- They offer localized marketing and promotions.
- They cater to preferences for paperless or hard tickets in each country.
- They work closely with venues, promoters, and rights holders to adapt to local business practices.
While the core ticketing technology remains the same, Ticketmaster deploys their solutions differently across Europe to serve the needs of each market and culture.
Future Outlook for Ticketmaster in Europe
Ticketmaster seems likely to remain a major force in European ticketing for the foreseeable future. However, their path forward in the region will likely involve:
- Facing growing complaints over high fees and lack of consumer choice.
- Continuing to lose some exclusive ticketing deals to competitors.
- Focusing more on targeted partnerships versus outright acquisitions.
- Investing in enhanced mobile ticketing and digital innovation.
- Potentially increasing use of video verification, biometrics, and other fraud-prevention technologies.
- Adapting their ticketing model and fees to appeal more to European consumer sensibilities.
Ticketmaster still enjoys significant advantages of scale, technology, and branding in Europe. But maintaining their position will require overcoming greater skepticism of their business practices compared to North America markets. Their future success in Europe likely depends on providing more value and flexibility to rights holders, promoters, venues, and consumers.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster is the dominant player in the North American ticketing industry. And over the past 25+ years, they have successfully expanded their operations to have a major presence across Europe as well. Today, Ticketmaster sells tickets in at least 15 European countries through customized operations in each local market. However, their position in Europe is more contested compared to North America. They face greater competition and more skepticism regarding their fees and exclusive deals. To maintain their foothold, Ticketmaster will need to provide robust ticketing services tailored to each country while adapting their business practices to European cultural expectations. But with their brand recognition, technology, and extensive partnerships, Ticketmaster remains the largest ticketing network across Europe.