Yes, Ticketmaster still uses barcodes for event tickets purchased through their platform. Ticketmaster, owned by Live Nation Entertainment, is the largest ticketing company in the United States and works with major concert promoters, sport leagues, theaters, and other event organizers to sell tickets.
When customers purchase tickets to concerts, sports games, plays, or other events through Ticketmaster, the tickets are issued with a barcode. This barcode contains information about the specific ticket, including the venue, event, date, seat location, and more. The barcode allows the venue to quickly scan and verify each ticket upon entry.
Barcode technology provides a few key benefits for Ticketmaster and venues:
Efficiency
Barcode scanning is much faster than manually checking each ticket. Event staff can quickly scan the barcode and grant entry, allowing more people to enter the venue in a shorter period of time. This reduces lines and bottlenecks at the entrance.
Prevention of Fraud
The unique barcode linked to each ticket helps prevent duplication of tickets and fraud. If a fake ticket is presented with an invalid barcode, it can quickly be identified. This ensures only valid ticket holders are granted entry.
Data Collection
The barcode scans allow Ticketmaster and venues to collect data on ticket use. They can track exactly how many tickets were scanned at an event and identify any unused tickets. This provides valuable insights into event attendance and demand.
History of Barcode Ticketing
Ticketmaster has been utilizing barcode ticketing since soon after the company was founded in 1976. Some key milestones in the history of Ticketmaster’s use of barcodes include:
1982
Ticketmaster developed one of the first computerized ticketing systems to issue and track barcoded tickets. This new technology helped Ticketmaster land major clients like the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the 1982 World’s Fair.
1993
Ticketmaster teamed up with airline company Northwest to develop the first completely barcoded ticketing system for an airline. This demonstrated Ticketmaster could expand barcode ticketing beyond concerts and events.
2008
Ticketmaster launched paperless ticketing, which allows customers to get tickets delivered electronically to their phone that could be scanned digitally. While not technically barcodes, this further advanced Ticketmaster’s digital ticketing technology.
2017
Ticketmaster utilized Bluetooth proximity technology to grant entry by detecting mobile barcodes on customer phones from up to 100 feet away. This technology opened the door for contactless entry via barcode scans.
How Ticketmaster Barcodes Work
Ticketmaster utilizes a few standard barcode formats for its tickets. These include:
Code 128 Barcodes
The Code 128 barcode standard encodes alphanumeric characters along with special characters into a machine-readable format. This allowsTicketmaster to encode venue, event, seat, and other key ticket information into the barcode.
QR Codes
Some Ticketmaster barcodes utilize QR or quick response codes. QR codes can encode more complex ticket information in a digital format that can be easily scanned.
Aztec Codes
Ticketmaster also uses Aztec codes, which are similar to QR codes. They can encode up to 3,000 characters for even more robust ticket data in the barcode.
Some key facts about Ticketmaster’s use of barcodes:
- Each barcode is unique and tied to a specific ticket
- The barcode can be scanned even if printed on a distorted ticket
- The barcode contains no personal customer data – only ticket info
- The barcode can be reprinted if necessary without issues
- Some venues may add an additional venue-specific barcode to their tickets in addition to the main Ticketmaster barcode
Once purchased, customers can access their ticket barcode via the Ticketmaster website or mobile app. The barcode can be printed directly on the ticket or displayed digitally on a mobile device screen for scanning.
Benefits of Barcode Ticketing
There are a number of key benefits barcode ticketing provides for Ticketmaster, venues, and customers:
Convenience
Customers can easily access their ticket barcode digitally through their Ticketmaster account. There’s no need to worry about losing a printed paper ticket.
Security
The unique barcode helps prevent duplication of tickets or unauthorized entry with fake tickets.
Efficiency
Quick barcode scans allow more customers to enter venues faster, reducing wait times.
Insights
Barcode scans provide data on ticket use and attendance, giving venues valuable business intelligence.
Flexibility
Customers can transfer tickets to friends easily by providing the barcode. No need for paper tickets.
Recent Barcode Innovations
While barcodes have been used for decades, Ticketmaster continues to implement innovative new applications of barcode technology:
Contactless Entry
Barcodes can now be scanned hands-free via proximity detection allowing ticket holders to enter without handing over a device.
Interactive Barcodes
Special dynamic barcodes can display venue maps, event info, seat locations, and more embedded right in the code.
RFID Pairing
Some venues pair the Ticketmaster barcode with an RFID chip for dual identification and functionality.
The Future of Ticketmaster Barcodes
While Ticketmaster will likely continue to utilize barcodes into the foreseeable future, some emerging technologies could augment or replace barcodes over time:
Near Field Communication
NFC technology allows data exchange by tapping devices. This could enable tap-and-go entry using mobile tickets.
Facial Recognition
Facial recognition is being tested as a contactless entry method by taking a photo of the ticket holder upon entry.
Blockchain Ticketing
Blockchain-based ticketing could produce encrypted digital tickets that are near impossible to counterfeit or duplicate.
While tech will advance, the core benefits of security, efficiency, and insights provided by barcodes will likely be retained in any new ticketing technologies. Ticketmaster barcodes have already evolved greatly since the 1980s.
Conclusion
In summary, barcodes have been used by Ticketmaster for over 40 years and remain the standard for ticket identification and entry at major venues and events. The technology provides an efficient, secure, and insightful ticketing process benefitting promoters, venues, and customers. Ticketmaster continues to innovate new applications of barcode technology to improve the live event experience. While new emerging tech may supplement barcodes in the future, the core barcode approach will likely continue to play a key role for Ticketmaster and live event ticketing for years to come.