Ticketmaster is one of the largest ticket sales and distribution companies in the world. Founded in 1976 in the United States, Ticketmaster provides ticket sales for concerts, sporting events, theater shows, and more. The company operates in over 30 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. Two of Ticketmaster’s largest markets are the United Kingdom and the United States. While both Ticketmaster UK and Ticketmaster USA operate under the same parent company, there are some key differences between the two businesses when it comes to operations, services, partnerships, and more.
Company Overview
Ticketmaster UK and Ticketmaster USA have some similarities in terms of company structure but also some differences.
Ticketmaster UK
– Wholly owned subsidiary of Ticketmaster Entertainment, LLC based in London, UK
– Provides ticket sales for events across the UK
– Also serves Ireland and parts of Europe
– Key executives based in London office
Ticketmaster USA
– Headquarters and main operations based in Beverly Hills, California
– Largest and original Ticketmaster subsidiary
– Provides ticket sales for events across North America
– Key executives based in California headquarters
While both subsidiaries operate under the Ticketmaster parent brand and umbrella, Ticketmaster USA makes up the bulk of Ticketmaster’s global revenue and operations as the original and largest subsidiary.
Services and Operations
Both Ticketmaster UK and USA provide event ticketing services but there are some differences in specific offerings.
Ticketmaster UK
– Primary ticketing provider for large venues across UK and Ireland including The O2 Arena, Wembley Stadium, Manchester Arena, SSE Arena Belfast etc.
– Ticketing for top football clubs including Chelsea FC, Liverpool FC, Manchester United etc.
– Ticketing provider for major UK festivals like Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds, Parklife, Isle of Wight etc.
– Ticketing for concerts, shows, and theatres across the UK
– Does not provide ticketing services for North American events
Ticketmaster USA
– Primary ticketing for major US venues like Madison Square Garden, Staples Center, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, TD Garden etc.
– Ticketing provider for US pro sports leagues including NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS etc.
– Ticketing for major festivals in North America like Coachella, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Stagecoach etc.
– Ticketing for concerts, shows and theatres across North America
– Does not provide ticketing for UK/Ireland events
So while there is some overlap in the types of events (concerts, shows, sports), Ticketmaster UK and USA focus on providing ticketing services for their respective markets and regions. Ticketmaster USA’s operations are much larger given the size of the North American market.
Partnerships
Given their different markets, Ticketmaster UK and USA have formed partnerships with different venues, promoters, and leagues.
Ticketmaster UK Major Partners
– AEG Facilities – venue management company that owns/operates The O2, Wembley Arena, Eventim Apollo etc.
– SMG Europe – venue management company that owns/operates Manchester Arena, SSE Hydro etc.
– Live Nation UK – UK division of the global concert promoter and venue operator
– Soccer clubs – Chelsea FC, Liverpool FC, Manchester United
– Glastonbury Festival
Ticketmaster USA Major Partners
– AEG Facilities – owns/operates Staples Center, LA Kings, LA Galaxy etc.
– Madison Square Garden Entertainment – owns MSG, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre etc.
– Live Nation – US division of major concert promoter and venue owner
– NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS
– Large festival promoters like Goldenvoice (Coachella) and C3 Presents (Lollapalooza)
There is some overlap with global companies like Live Nation and AEG but overall the partnerships reflect the region-specific focus for Ticketmaster UK and USA.
Fees and Pricing
One area where there is considerable debate and frustration from fans in both markets is Ticketmaster’s fees. However, there are some slight differences in Ticketmaster’s fee structure between UK and USA.
Ticketmaster UK Fees
– Booking fee per ticket – max of £2.55 for online purchases
– Postage fee per order – £3.95 for print-at-home tickets, £2.95 for tickets delivered by post
– Payment processing fee – £2.37 for credit/debit card purchases
– Maximum total fees per order – 12.5% of ticket face value
Ticketmaster USA Fees
– Service fee per ticket – ranges from ~$5-$25 depending on event
– Order processing fee per ticket order – $6-$12+
– Delivery fee per ticket – $5+ for print-at-home, $20+ for courier delivery
– Facility charge per ticket – additional fee assessed by the venue, event organizer
– Maximum fees per order – up to 25-30%+ of ticket face value
While both set booking/service fees per ticket and charge delivery fees, Ticketmaster USA’s fees tend to be higher on average compared to the UK. The company faced lawsuit in the US in 2019 over its fees.
Mobile Ticketing
Mobile ticketing allows customers to purchase, manage, and scan tickets directly from their smartphone. Both Ticketmaster UK and USA have focused on expanding mobile ticketing options but there are some differences.
Ticketmaster UK Mobile Ticketing
– Ticketmaster UK app available on iOS and Android
– Mobile tickets offered for most events
– Barcode displayed in app for gate scanning
– Paperless ticketing required for some events
Ticketmaster USA Mobile Ticketing
– Ticketmaster app for iOS and Android
– Mobile tickets widely available
– Offers “SafeTix” – tickets with rotating barcode for fraud prevention
– Also supports Apple Wallet mobile ticketing
– Paperless ticketing mandate for some venue partners
Both offer robust mobile apps and ticketing but Ticketmaster USA has put more emphasis on branded mobile ticketing services like SafeTix and Apple Wallet integration versus standard mobile tickets.
Verified Resale Marketplaces
In both the UK and USA, Ticketmaster has adopted verified resale marketplaces for secondhand ticket sales as an alternative to outside scalping and touting.
Ticketmaster UK Ticket Resale
– Ticketmaster Ticket Resale is UK’s official resale marketplace, fully integrated with Ticketmaster’s primary sales
– Sellers can resell tickets they can no longer use
– All resale tickets verified as genuine by Ticketmaster
– Caps on resale price to avoid scalping/tout pricing
– Buyers can get tickets transferred instantly and securely
Ticketmaster USA Ticket Exchange
– Ticket Exchange is Ticketmaster’s verified resale marketplace in the US and Canada
– Perks like 100% money-back guarantee for buyers and ticket transfer using SafeTix
– Maximum resale price capped at 50% above initial ticket value
– Buyers fees waived for resold tickets
– Let’s rights-holders control secondary ticketing of their events
The goal of both resale platforms is to give fans secure options to resell or buy secondhand tickets while avoiding scalping.
Website and App Experiences
Not surprisingly, Ticketmaster UK and USA have tailored websites and mobile apps for each territory.
Ticketmaster UK
– ticketmaster.co.uk – optimized for UK events, venues, dates, promotions etc.
– UK-specific FAQs, buyer guarantees, partnerships highlighted
– Mobile app has UK-centric experiences and events
– But compatible with Ticketmaster accounts worldwide
Ticketmaster USA
– ticketmaster.com – designed for US events and ticket buyers
– Tailored for US sports leagues, venues, events
– US rewards programs, guarantees featured
– Mobile app focused on US ticketing
– But interoperable with international Ticketmaster platforms
The underlying technology behind the websites and apps is similar but front-end experiences are localized.
Verified Fan Presales
Both Ticketmaster UK and USA have adopted Verified Fan presale registration for high-demand events.
Verified Fan (UK)
– Available for selected events likely to sell out quickly
– Fans register ahead of presales for chance to buy tickets
– Verified based on Ticketmaster purchase history and other data
– Reduces bots and touts bulk-buying tickets
– Used for hugely popular acts like Harry Styles
Verified Fan (USA)
– Established in the US in 2016 and regularly used for major tours
– Registration generally a week+ before presale
– Verification methods may include Ticketmaster account history, social media, and codes
– Employed for massive acts like Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, Adele
– Helps get more tickets directly to genuine fans
The verification process aims to cut down on scalpers and bots skewing presales. But some fans complain it is biased toward frequent Ticketmaster customers versus general fans.
Customer Service
For customer service and support, Ticketmaster UK and USA again tailor experiences to each region.
Ticketmaster UK Customer Service
– Support articles tailored for UK fans and ticket buyers
– UK phone number for customer service calls
– Email and chat support also offered
– Response times guaranteed within 5 hours
– Support hours: 9am – 8pm GMT daily
Ticketmaster USA Customer Service
– US-focused help/FAQ sections
– Dedicated US phone numbers
– Email, chat, and social media support
– Responses within 4 hours guaranteed
– Support hours: 7am – 8pm PST daily
– Additional service for high-net worth clients
While both aim for speedy responses and localized support, Ticketmaster USA goes beyond UK with additional high-value customer services.
Conclusion
In summary, while Ticketmaster UK and USA share an overall brand and ticketing technology framework, there are notable differences between the two businesses when it comes to partnerships, events served, fees, mobile ticketing, resale marketplaces, website experiences, customer service, and more. Both subsidiaries cater their services to their respective local markets across the UK/Europe and North America. However, Ticketmaster USA has generally led the way in terms of innovation around new ticketing formats like verified fan presales andSafeTix mobile delivery. The company’s dominance and market share is also much greater in North America compared to Ticketmaster UK in Europe. However, Ticketmaster remains one of the foremost ticketing brands worldwide.