The NFL does have an exclusive contract with Ticketmaster for the primary ticket sales for all NFL games. This partnership began in 2001 and was most recently renewed in 2015 for another 5 years, keeping Ticketmaster as the official ticketing partner of the NFL through 2020.
Quick Answers
- Yes, the NFL has an exclusive contract with Ticketmaster for primary ticket sales for all games.
- The partnership began in 2001 and was renewed in 2015 through 2020.
- Ticketmaster is the only place to buy tickets directly from the NFL for games.
- Teams can use their own ticketing services for some secondary sales.
- The contract gives the NFL and teams access to Ticketmaster’s technology and fan data.
The deal between the NFL and Ticketmaster gives Ticketmaster the exclusive rights to sell tickets directly to fans for all NFL games, including regular season, playoffs, and the Super Bowl. This includes sales on NFL.com, team websites, Ticketmaster.com, phone sales, and box office sales at the stadiums.
History of the NFL-Ticketmaster Contract
Prior to 2001, NFL teams contracted with various ticketing companies on an individual team basis for ticket sales and distribution. In 2001, the NFL signed an exclusive league-wide deal with Ticketmaster for the first time.
Year | Contract Details |
---|---|
2001 | First league-wide contract signed between NFL and Ticketmaster |
2008 | Contract renewed for 5 additional years |
2015 | Current contract signed, extending partnership through 2020 season |
The initial 2001 deal marked the first time the NFL consolidated its ticketing operations under one provider. This deal has been renewed multiple times since, most recently in 2015. Under the current contract terms, Ticketmaster will remain the NFL’s exclusive ticketing partner through the 2020 season.
What the Contract Means for Fans
Under this exclusive contract, Ticketmaster is the only way for fans to buy tickets directly from the NFL or individual teams for games. This means:
- Fans must use Ticketmaster to buy tickets on NFL.com or team websites.
- Tickets cannot be sold through other ticketing providers on official NFL channels.
- Ticketmaster runs the box offices at NFL stadiums on gameday.
- The NFL and teams cannot directly sell to fans through other platforms.
With Ticketmaster as the sole source of primary ticket inventory, it limits options for fans to purchase tickets directly from the league. However, NFL teams can utilize their own ticketing platforms for some secondary ticket sales for things like season tickets and specialty packages.
Benefits for the NFL
The NFL’s exclusive deal with Ticketmaster provides several benefits:
- Advanced ticketing technology and analytics: Access to Ticketmaster’s industry-leading ticket sales infrastructure and data analytics tools.
- Convenience and reliability: Provides a consistent, convenient ticketing source for fans across all NFL games and venues.
- League-wide sales: Consolidates all ticket sales across NFL teams and events on one platform.
- Revenue generation: Enables coordinated ticketing strategies to maximize revenue across the league.
The NFL is able to leverage Ticketmaster’s technology, data and capabilities to enhance ticket sales and operations for the league and teams in a way that would be difficult to match on their own.
Alternatives for Purchasing NFL Tickets
While Ticketmaster is the exclusive primary ticketing provider for the NFL, there are still some alternative options for fans to get tickets:
Secondary resale sites
Fans can purchase NFL tickets resold by other fans on secondary marketplaces like StubHub, VividSeats, SeatGeek and more. These sites offer tickets being resold by season ticket holders and other fans.
Team ticket exchanges
Some NFL teams operate their own ticket exchanges where season ticket holders can resell unused tickets. These exchanges are restricted just to team resales.
Special packages and hospitality
Teams sell specialized ticket packages and premium hospitality options separate from Ticketmaster that provide add-ons like pre-game sideline access, exclusive catering, etc. These are available directly through team sales departments.
League partner packages
Sponsors, partners and vendor packages from the NFL for things like Super Bowl packages can also be separate from Ticketmaster primary sales.
Future of the NFL’s Ticketing Policy
The NFL’s deal with Ticketmaster currently runs through the 2020 season. It’s unclear at this point if the league will extend the partnership beyond then or possibly open up ticketing to more competition among providers.
Some teams and fans have complained about high Ticketmaster fees and lack of innovation in recent years. However, Ticketmaster remains the dominant ticketing provider across most major sports leagues and large venues. The NFL could see benefits in continuing an exclusive deal for league-wide consistency and advanced capabilities.
There has also been some calls for teams to be able to sell more tickets directly and avoid Ticketmaster fees. Several teams have expanded use of their own ticket sales systems in recent years for certain types of tickets sales. It’s possible the NFL could relax exclusivity requirements in the future to provide more ticketing options.
Conclusion
In summary, the NFL does currently have a restrictive contract with Ticketmaster that makes them the only source of primary ticket sales for all NFL games. This exclusive deal provides the league with technology and data capabilities that would be difficult to replicate on their own. Fans are limited to Ticketmaster for direct purchases from the NFL and teams, but do have some alternative options through secondary ticket exchanges and resellers. It remains to be seen whether the NFL will extend their partnership with Ticketmaster beyond the 2020 season or open up ticketing to more competition among providers in the future.