No, Universe is not a Ticketmaster company. Universe and Ticketmaster are separate companies that both provide ticketing services for live events.
Universe’s Company Background
Universe was founded in 2000 by Syracuse University alumnus Dan Smargon and is headquartered in Syracuse, NY. Universe started out by selling tickets to college events and has expanded to provide ticketing services for venues, theaters, festivals and more across the United States.
Some key facts about Universe:
- Universe was founded in 2000 in Syracuse, NY
- The company is privately owned, with founder Dan Smargon still at the helm as CEO
- Universe provides ticketing services focused on live events, serving venues, theaters, festivals and university clients
- Universe has grown to over 150 employees and has clients across the US
While Universe started out focused on the college and university market, the company has expanded over the past two decades to serve clients across the live events industry. However, education and college clients remain an important part of Universe’s business.
Ticketmaster’s Company Background
Ticketmaster is the largest ticketing company in the world. It provides ticketing services for concerts, sports games, theater shows and other live entertainment events. Ticketmaster was founded in 1976 in Phoenix, AZ and is now headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA.
Some key facts about Ticketmaster:
- Ticketmaster was founded in 1976 in Phoenix, AZ
- The company is a subsidiary of Live Nation, the world’s largest live entertainment company
- Ticketmaster sells tickets for over 500,000 events each year across 29 countries
- In 2010, Ticketmaster merged with Live Nation to become part of the world’s largest live entertainment company
With Live Nation’s vast network of venues, festivals and promoters, Ticketmaster sells tickets for the largest range of live entertainment events worldwide from the biggest concerts to niche shows.
Universe and Ticketmaster Comparison
While both Universe and Ticketmaster provide ticketing services, there are some key differences between the two companies:
Category | Universe | Ticketmaster |
---|---|---|
Founded | 2000 | 1976 |
Headquarters | Syracuse, NY | Beverly Hills, CA |
Ownership | Privately owned | Subsidiary of Live Nation |
Size | 150 employees | Over 7,000 employees |
Clients | Venues, theaters, festivals, universities across US | Over 500,000 events in 29 countries |
The key differences are:
- Universe is a privately owned small-to-medium sized company focused on the US market, while Ticketmaster is part of the global Live Nation live events giant.
- Universe is focused on specific verticals like university and theater clients, while Ticketmaster serves the broadest range of live entertainment events.
- Universe handles ticketing for thousands of events annually, while Ticketmaster facilitates ticketing for over 500,000 events globally each year.
Is Universe Owned by Ticketmaster?
No, Universe is not owned by Ticketmaster or affiliated with Ticketmaster in any way. The two companies are completely separate businesses.
While Universe was founded 26 years after Ticketmaster, it has been able to grow in its own niche, particularly within the university and theater event spaces. Universe and Ticketmaster have co-existed independently for over 2 decades serving complementary segments of the ticketing industry.
There are a few key reasons why Universe is not owned by or affiliated with Ticketmaster:
- Universe has been privately owned by founder Dan Smargon since it began in 2000. Ticketmaster has been a subsidiary of Live Nation since 2010.
- Universe is headquartered in Syracuse, NY while Ticketmaster is run out of Beverly Hills, CA as part of Live Nation.
- The two companies have separate leadership teams and employees.
- They use different ticketing platforms and technologies to serve their clients.
- Universe focuses on mid-sized venues, theaters and universities while Ticketmaster serves major concert venues and festivals.
While Ticketmaster’s 2010 merger with Live Nation has made it the largest player in ticketing, independent companies like Universe have been able to thrive by specializing in certain client sectors and utilizing their own ticketing technologies.
Could Universe Be Acquired by Ticketmaster in the Future?
It is possible, but unlikely, that Ticketmaster would acquire Universe in the future. Here are some pros and cons of such an acquisition:
Potential Pros of Ticketmaster Acquiring Universe:
- Ticketmaster could expand its university and theater event client base through Universe’s existing relationships.
- Universe’s mid-sized venue clients could add a new tier to Ticketmaster’s very large and small venue focus.
- The merger could improve economies of scale around ticketing technology development.
Potential Cons of Ticketmaster Acquiring Universe:
- Universe’s privately owned structure and leadership team would likely pose challenges in integrating the two company cultures.
- Ticketmaster’s global scale may undermine Universe’s ability to provide specialized services to its client sectors.
- The deal may face antitrust scrutiny, especially in the university and theatrical spaces where the combined market share would be significant.
Additionally, as a profitable private company, Universe does not necessarily have strong financial or strategic incentives to be acquired. The leadership of both companies would have to determine that such a deal made sense aligning their goals and culture.
Ultimately, while there could be some benefits, there are also significant challenges that make a Ticketmaster acquisition of Universe unlikely barring major changes in their strategic directions or the live events industry landscape.
Conclusion
In summary, Universe and Ticketmaster are two independent companies that have coexisted for over 20 years in the ticketing industry. While both provide event ticketing services, Universe is a privately owned business focused on the US theater, university, and mid-sized venue market. Ticketmaster is the global ticketing giant owned by Live Nation that serves the largest concerts and events worldwide. While an acquisition is possible, the differences in their ownership, focus, and scale make it unlikely.