AXS is one of the major ticket providers and marketplaces for live entertainment events in the United States. It sells tickets for concerts, sports events, theater shows and more. Many people wonder if AXS is a legitimate and trustworthy site to purchase tickets from. Here is a quick overview answering some of the key questions around AXS:
Is AXS an official ticket seller?
Yes, AXS is an official primary ticket outlet. It has partnerships with major venues, teams, artists, and promoters to sell tickets directly for events. AXS is owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), one of the largest entertainment companies in the world. So it has direct connections to acquire inventory to sell.
Is it safe to buy tickets on AXS?
Buying tickets on AXS is generally safe. As an official ticket seller, the tickets sold on AXS are valid and come directly from the venue or event organizer. AXS uses industry standard security measures on its website to process payments securely. Many major events exclusively use AXS as their ticketing service.
Are there fake tickets on AXS?
There should not be fake or scam tickets sold directly on AXS. Since AXS gets its ticket inventory directly from the source, any tickets sold on the site are valid. However, there are some unofficial resale tickets sold on AXS via the marketplace. These should be verified for authenticity.
Is AXS pricing reasonable?
AXS tries to price tickets reasonably based on market demand. For high demand events, pricing may be higher. AXS does have some additional fees for ordering processing, though overall their pricing is competitive vs. other major ticketing sites. They also have inventory at fixed “official platinum” prices.
Background on AXS
Here is some helpful background information on AXS to understand their business and legitimacy as a ticketing site:
History
– Founded in 2011 as a joint venture between AEG, the venue owner and event producer, and Outbox Enterprises, a ticketing technology company.
– Acquired ticketing provider Ticketmaster’s Paciolan division in 2013 to power its ticketing infrastructure.
– Expanded by acquiring secondary ticket marketplaces like Front Line and Verge to add resale inventory.
Operations
– Official ticketing provider for major venues like the Staples Center, The O2 Arena, and Red Rocks Amphitheater which are owned by AEG. Also ticket partner for large festivals like Coachella.
– Designated ticketing service for major sports teams like FC Barcelona, Los Angeles Galaxy, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Seattle Seahawks.
– Sells several million tickets per year across thousands of events and 150+ venues globally.
– Aside from primary inventory, also resells third party tickets through fan exchange marketplaces. Verified resale tickets are flagged on the site.
Industry Position
– One of the top 5 largest ticket retailers in the US along with other leading sites like Ticketmaster, StubHub, VividSeats, and SeatGeek.
– Key player especially in the live entertainment and music events space. AXS leverages the scale and connections of its parent company AEG.
– Has 17% market share of the secondary ticket exchange industry through its resale sites according to reports.
Assessing AXS as a Ticket Provider
When evaluating AXS as a ticket provider, here are some of the key strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths
– Official ticket inventory directly from venues and event organizers. Tickets are 100% valid and legitimate.
– Competitive pricing with low fees compared to other major ticketing sites.
– Owned by AEG so has exclusive access to top venues and events. Large ticket inventory.
– Good customer support via phone, email, and online chat.
– Secure payment processing and website protection against fraud.
– Flexible ticket resale through fan exchange marketplaces.
Weaknesses
– Somewhat limited selection outside of AEG affiliated venues and events. Less inventory for nonsponsored events.
– Fewer purchasing options – mostly online and mobile sales. No widespread physical box office locations.
– Website and app can have technical issues during high traffic sales for hot events.
– Higher prices and extra fees associated with their “Official Platinum” tickets.
Key Metrics
Here are some key metrics when evaluating AXS as a ticketing service:
Metric | Data |
---|---|
Number of tickets sold annually | Approximately 20 million |
Number of venues served | Over 150 globally |
Market share of ticket sales | 5% of US market |
Market share of secondary ticket sales | 17% of US market |
Number of users | 10+ million registered users |
Revenue | $1+ billion annually |
Customer Experiences Buying from AXS
In general, most customers have positive experiences buying tickets on AXS. Here are some common pros and cons highlighted in buyer reviews:
Positive Experiences
– Quick and easy ticket purchasing process online and via mobile app.
– Access to presales and special promotions, especially for AEG events.
– Good selection of seats viewable via interactive seat maps.
– Competitive pricing with low service fees.
– Valid tickets that arrive timely via email or AXS app.
– Good customer service response time.
Negative Experiences
– Difficulties getting tickets for extremely high demand events and concerts due to supply limits.
– Some technical issues on the site during rush ticket releases.
– Higher convenience fees for phone orders vs. online orders.
– Long queues and wait times at will call pickup for events.
– Confusing nature of resale tickets vs original tickets.
Conclusion
In summary, AXS is considered to be a legitimate and trustworthy ticket site. As an official ticket retailer owned by AEG, it has direct partnerships with venues, promoters, and teams to sell valid primary event tickets. The site has a good reputation for safety, security, and customer service. While the inventory is limited for non-AEG events, most customers report positive experiences buying tickets on AXS. There are very few reports of fake tickets or scamming issues. With responsible use, AXS is generally a safe option for purchasing tickets to concerts, sports, and other live entertainment events.