No, Vivid Seats does not go through Ticketmaster. Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster are two separate companies that operate independently as secondary ticket marketplaces. When you buy tickets on Vivid Seats, you are not purchasing them through Ticketmaster’s platform.
What is Vivid Seats?
Vivid Seats is an online ticket marketplace that allows people to buy and sell tickets for sports, concerts, theater shows, and other live events. It provides a platform that connects ticket buyers and sellers for resale tickets.
Vivid Seats was founded in 2001 and is based in Chicago. It offers tickets to over 3 million live events across the United States and Canada. Vivid Seats works with a network of suppliers that includes season ticket holders, ticket brokers, event organizers, and more to provide inventory for resale.
Some key features and services offered by Vivid Seats include:
- A ticket marketplace to buy and sell tickets for resale
- No fees charged to ticket buyers
- 100% buyer guarantee on tickets
- eTickets available through Vivid Seats mobile app
- FanProtect purchase protection on ticket orders
- Dedicated Vivid Seats customer support
Vivid Seats competes with other secondary ticket sites like StubHub, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster, and TicketNetwork as an alternative platform to buy tickets.
What is Ticketmaster?
Ticketmaster is a ticket sales and distribution company that provides ticketing services for live entertainment events. It sells tickets through its website, mobile apps, ticket outlets, and call centers.
Founded in 1976, Ticketmaster serves over 30,000 clients worldwide across music, sports, arts and theater. It is an official ticket provider for hundreds of venues, artists, sports franchises, and leagues.
Some venues exclusively use Ticketmaster for their initial ticket sales. Ticketmaster dominates the primary ticket marketplace with exclusive partnerships.
In addition to primary ticket sales, Ticketmaster also has a secondary resale marketplace through a partnership with NFL Ticket Exchange. The Ticketmaster resale marketplace allows fans to resell event tickets they can no longer use.
Key features and services of Ticketmaster include:
- Primary ticket sales for live events
- Official partnerships with major venues, artists, teams, and leagues
- Ticket resale marketplace
- Digital ticketing through mobile app
- Access to hard-to-get and sold out ticket inventory
- Fan-to-fan ticket exchanges
Differences Between Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster
Although Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster both provide ways for people to buy and sell tickets online, there are some key differences between the two companies:
Type of Inventory
Vivid Seats strictly offers resale marketplace inventory. None of the ticket inventory comes directly from the venue or event organizer. Vivid Seats connects buyers to resellers who are looking to sell their tickets.
Ticketmaster sells primary market inventory as the original ticket source, in addition to resale inventory through its NFL Ticket Exchange marketplace.
Buying Fees
Vivid Seats does not charge any service fees to ticket buyers. The service fees are charged to the sellers listing the tickets instead.
Ticketmaster charges service and order processing fees to ticket buyers on top of the ticket price. These can range from 10-20%+ of the base ticket cost.
Seller Commissions
Vivid Seats collects a commission of 10-20% on ticket sales from sellers using their marketplace. The percentage varies based on factors like ticket category, event, and seller status.
Ticketmaster charges a commission of 15-20% for sellers in most cases. Higher volume sellers may receive discounted commissions.
Guarantee
Vivid Seats provides a 100% buyer guarantee on all ticket orders. If a problem arises with ticket delivery or validity, Vivid Seats will find replacement tickets or provide a full refund.
Ticketmaster does not offer any specific guarantee on tickets sold through its marketplace by third party sellers.
Platform Focus
Vivid Seats focuses solely on the secondary ticket resale marketplace.
Ticketmaster operates in both the primary and secondary ticket markets.
Can You Buy from Vivid Seats on Ticketmaster?
You cannot buy tickets on Vivid Seats through the Ticketmaster website or app. The two companies operate completely separate online ticket marketplaces.
If you find a ticket listed for sale on Vivid Seats that you want to purchase, you must complete the transaction directly through VividSeats.com or their mobile app. The tickets are not listed or available on the Ticketmaster platform.
You also cannot list or sell tickets through Ticketmaster as a Vivid Seats seller. Sellers must have an account and list tickets for sale directly on Vivid Seats instead.
Does Vivid Seats Use Ticketmaster Tickets?
Vivid Seats sources tickets from individual ticket resellers – not directly from Ticketmaster. The tickets were likely originally purchased on Ticketmaster in many cases. But they are being resold by a third party ticket owner, not Ticketmaster itself.
For popular shows, sporting events, and theaters that use Ticketmaster ticketing, there is significant crossover. The original buyers list them for resale on Vivid Seats. But the actual ticket listing and transaction is managed by Vivid Seats, not Ticketmaster.
Vivid Seats may get access to Ticketmaster verified resale tickets. But those tickets would be transferred from the seller to Vivid Seats and then resold on Vivid Seats marketplace.
How Do Vivid Seats Get Their Tickets?
Vivid Seats gets their ticket inventory from individual ticket resellers and brokers, not directly from event organizers or box offices. They provide a secondary resale marketplace to connect buyers and sellers.
Some key sources Vivid Seats uses to acquire ticket inventory include:
- Season ticket holders looking to sell extra games/events
- Fans and other ticket buyers reselling tickets they can no longer use
- Professional ticket brokers
- Speculators and resellers seeking profits on high-demand events
- Sponsor allotments and promotional ticket holders
- Other ticket marketplaces supplying inventory
Vivid Seats competes aggressively to source the most in-demand and hard to find ticket inventory for resale. They work with large networks of ticket suppliers to get access to tickets.
Is Vivid Seats Better Than Ticketmaster?
Whether Vivid Seats or Ticketmaster is better depends on your specific needs as a ticket buyer or seller:
For Buyers
Vivid Seats may be better for buyers looking for resale tickets. Benefits include:
- No buyer fees
- Access to sold out events
- Lower prices than Ticketmaster resale
- 100% buyer guarantee
Ticketmaster may be better for buyers wanting primary market tickets. Benefits include:
- Official source for first-sale event tickets
- Access to presales and special promotions
- Integrated experience with venues
- Perks like preferred parking, VIP packages
For Sellers
Vivid Seats may offer better selling options due to:
- Higher sale prices and more exposure
- No requirement to list cheap tickets
- Quick access to event listings
Ticketmaster provides these seller advantages:
- Large buyer audience already using Ticketmaster
- Official partnership status with events
- Seamless transfer of original tickets
For the best deals and prices, buyers are often better served using Vivid Seats. But Ticketmaster delivers benefits for fans wanting direct event access and sellers wanting broad exposure.
Can You Sell Tickets from Ticketmaster on Vivid Seats?
Yes, you can resell tickets purchased originally on Ticketmaster on the Vivid Seats marketplace, with a few caveats.
For mobile tickets or Ticketmaster transfers, you must fully transfer the tickets off your Ticketmaster account to the buyer using Vivid Seats tools. This permanently moves them away from your Ticketmaster account to the new buyer.
For paper tickets, you must physically mail your Ticketmaster tickets to the Vivid Seats buyer upon purchase. Remove any Ticketmaster barcodes or identifying information before mailing.
Some events also prohibit reselling on secondary marketplaces, which would block you from listing those tickets on Vivid Seats.
To sell your Ticketmaster tickets on Vivid Seats:
- List ticket information on Vivid Seats platform
- Sync your Ticketmaster account to transfer mobile/electronic tickets
- Mail paper tickets after removing Ticketmaster identifiers
- Provide any ticket transfer information to buyer
How Do I Transfer Tickets from Ticketmaster to Vivid Seats?
To transfer tickets purchased on Ticketmaster to a buyer on Vivid Seats, follow these steps:
- List ticket for sale on Vivid Seats and coordinate with buyer
- Access your Ticketmaster account ticket page
- Select the “Transfer Tickets” option
- Enter buyer details including name, email address, phone number
- Click “Transfer” to begin secure ticket transfer
- Buyer will receive ticket transfer notification from Ticketmaster
- Confirm transfer is complete before event
If you have a Ticketmaster mobile ticket, you can also transfer from the Ticketmaster app. Open the ticket, click Transfer, enter buyer details, and complete transfer.
Be sure the Vivid Seats buyer knows how to accept and access the Ticketmaster transferred tickets. Provide any details like transfer confirmation codes as well.
Does Vivid Seats Accept Ticketmaster Tickets?
Yes, Vivid Seats can accept tickets originally purchased through Ticketmaster. As a Vivid Seats seller, you have a few options to provide Ticketmaster tickets to your buyer:
- Mobile/Electronic Transfer – Use Ticketmaster’s transfer tools to send tickets from your Ticketmaster account to the Vivid Seats buyer account
- In-Person Delivery – Meet the Vivid Seats buyer to scan tickets from your Ticketmaster app
- Paper Tickets by Mail – Physically mail printed Ticketmaster paper tickets removing any Ticketmaster branding
To ensure a smooth ticket handoff, communicate clearly with your Vivid Seats buyer on the method you will use to provide the Ticketmaster purchased tickets. Also give any details needed to access the ticket transfer.
Conclusion
In summary, Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster operate as separate ticket companies. Vivid Seats specializes in secondary resale marketplace tickets, while Ticketmaster offers primary and resale inventory.
Buyers cannot purchase Vivid Seats tickets directly through the Ticketmaster platform. But sellers can resell Ticketmaster tickets on Vivid Seats through transfer or delivery options.
Vivid Seats competes with Ticketmaster by focusing on no buyer fees, great deals on hard to find tickets, and strong seller incentives. Ticketmaster leverages its longstanding venue partnerships and fan loyalty as an advantage.
Ultimately, Vivid Seats targets ticket resale while Ticketmaster serves both the primary and secondary ticket markets.
Learn more about ticket resale options:
- VividSeats.com – Vivid Seats ticket marketplace
- Ticketmaster.com – Ticketmaster’s primary and resale tickets
- StubHub.com – StubHub ticket resale marketplace
- TickPick.com – TickPick no fee ticket marketplace