Ticketmaster’s flash seats feature allows season ticket holders or teams to resell their tickets on the Ticketmaster website or app. Flash seats provide a secure way for fans to buy and sell tickets for specific events without dealing with paper tickets.
What are flash seats?
Flash seats refer to digital tickets that are tied to the ticket holder’s account rather than printed on paper. With flash seats:
- Season ticket holders don’t get paper tickets. Their tickets are loaded digitally into their online account.
- Tickets can be easily transferred between accounts online.
- Fans enter events by having their digital tickets scanned from their smartphone.
The flash seats system is controlled by Ticketmaster and available at certain venues where teams or Ticketmaster have implemented it. It provides a safer, more convenient alternative to paper tickets that can get lost or stolen.
How do flash seats work?
Here is the basic process for how flash seats work:
- Season tickets are loaded into the ticket holder’s Ticketmaster account online rather than issued on paper.
- Ticket holders can access their tickets through the Ticketmaster website or mobile app by logging into their account.
- When ticket holders want to resell tickets through Ticketmaster Resale, they can select which seats they want to post and at what price.
- Buyers purchase the tickets through Ticketmaster Resale, and the tickets are electronically transferred to the buyer’s account.
- To enter the event, the ticket holder opens their digital ticket on their smartphone and has the barcode scanned at the gate.
The tickets exist purely as digital assets tied to the customer’s Ticketmaster account. This allows easy transferring of tickets between accounts and eliminates the need for paper.
What are the benefits of flash seats?
Flash seats offer several benefits over traditional paper tickets:
- Convenience: Tickets are located in one place – the account holder’s Ticketmaster account. They can easily manage, transfer, and scan their tickets from their smartphone.
- Security: Tickets can’t be lost, stolen, or counterfeited. They are tied to the account holder’s identity.
- Accessibility: Ticket holders don’t need to physically meet to exchange tickets. Transferring tickets between accounts is simple.
- Integration: Flash seats are fully integrated with Ticketmaster’s Primary and Resale Marketplaces for a seamless ticket buying and selling experience.
- Environmental: Digital tickets reduce waste from printing physical tickets and save on shipping costs.
Overall, flash seats provide a modern, convenient way to access and manage tickets while reducing fraud risk. However, they do require fans to have smartphones to display their tickets.
How are flash seats different from e-tickets?
Flash seats differ from traditional e-tickets in a few key ways:
- Account-based: Flash seats are tied to an account and not emailed like typical e-tickets. Fans don’t need to worry about forwarding emails or additional steps to transfer.
- Point of entry: With flash seats, the ticket barcode is scanned directly from the app to enter. E-tickets often still need to be printed or scanned from email.
- Resellable: Flash seats are integrated with Ticketmaster Resale allowing easy reselling. E-tickets require extra steps to post and sell.
- Permanent: Flash seats can’t get lost in an inbox or accidentally deleted. They permanently live in the account.
So in summary, flash seats are account-based digital tickets designed specifically for efficient transfers, selling, and entry scanning from the smartphone. E-tickets are typically email-based and lack some of the enhanced features.
What teams currently use flash seats?
Here are some of the major teams across sports that currently utilize Ticketmaster’s flash seats system:
League | Teams |
---|---|
NBA | Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers |
NHL | Vegas Golden Knights |
NFL | Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings |
MLB | Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins |
MLS | Columbus Crew SC |
As you can see, the system has been adopted most widely so far by teams in Ohio and Minnesota where Ticketmaster is based. But it is expanding to more venues all the time.
College teams are also starting to use flash seats, including Ohio State, University of Kentucky, and Texas A&M. Performing arts venues like theaters and concert halls are adopting it as well.
How is Ticketmaster Resale integrated with flash seats?
One of the key benefits of flash seats is seamless integration with Ticketmaster’s Resale Marketplace. Here is how it works:
- Season ticket holders can select which tickets to resell directly from their Ticketmaster account.
- The tickets are then instantly posted for sale on the Ticketmaster Resale Marketplace.
- When the tickets sell to a buyer, they are electronically transferred to the buyer’s account.
- The seller’s account is automatically credited with the resale amount.
This tight integration allows season ticket holders to easily post and resell from their existing ticket inventory. It also gives buyers access to verified resale tickets directly within Ticketmaster without needing to go elsewhere.
Some key features of Ticketmaster Resale for flash seats include:
- Price Manager: Lets sellers dynamically price their seats based on factors like market demand.
- Split Pricing: Prices each seat individually instead of forcing a group price.
- Instant Delivery: Digital tickets are transferred immediately upon purchase.
- Fee Compensation: Sellers keep the full resale amount. Fees are paid by the buyer.
So in summary, the digital flash seats system works hand-in-hand with Ticketmaster Resale Marketplace to provide a streamlined ticket reselling experience.
What are some key tips for buying and selling flash seats?
Here are some top tips to keep in mind when buying and reselling flash seats on Ticketmaster:
Buying Tips
- Make sure to buy seats all together if you want them grouped or check the split pricing to purchase exact seats.
- Sort by Best Value to find deals.
- Filter by section to narrow down choices.
- Purchase early to get the best selection.
- Enter the event within the Ticketmaster app for fastest entry.
Selling Tips
- Research event demand and comparable sales to optimize pricing.
- Adjust prices dynamically using Price Manager as the event nears.
- List sooner than later so buyers can find the tickets.
- Consider splitting groups into individual seats to maximize profit.
Following these tips can help ensure buyers and sellers have the best possible experience with flash seats on Ticketmaster.
Conclusion
In summary, Ticketmaster’s flash seats provide digital, account-based tickets for teams and venues instead of traditional paper tickets. This allows convenient management, transferring, and scanning of tickets all from the ticket holder’s smartphone.
Flash seats are integrated with Ticketmaster Resale Marketplace for easy reselling by season ticket holders. Buyers also benefit from quick digital delivery and ability to shop resale directly within Ticketmaster.
While flash seats require having a smartphone, the benefits around security, flexibility, and ease of use make them a logical option as more teams, venues, and fans adopt digital ticketing. Following key tips for buying and selling will allow fans to seamlessly enjoy events while avoiding hassles and fraud risks of paper tickets.
The flash seats digital ticketing system delivers convenience for both ticket buyers and resellers. For teams and venues, it reduces fraud while providing data insights into their ticket sales and patrons. As mobile technology progresses, flash seats offer an innovative model to evolve beyond traditional paper tickets.
Overall, flash seats are Ticketmaster’s account-based digital ticketing platform that facilitates easier management, transferring, selling and entry for events. Integrated with Ticketmaster Resale, they provide teams and fans enhanced capabilities not possible with static paper or email tickets. While still rolling out across venues, the flash seats concept signals where the future of secure, convenient digital ticketing is headed.
Some key takeaways about flash seats include:
- They are tied to a user’s Ticketmaster account instead of issued as paper tickets or emailed.
- Tickets can be easily transferred digitally between Ticketmaster accounts.
- Fans scan their ticket barcode directly from the app to enter events.
- Benefits include convenience, security, accessibility and environmental savings.
- Flash seat inventory can be resold seamlessly through Ticketmaster Resale.
- Buyers and sellers should follow tips to maximize their experience.
- Major teams across NBA, NFL, NHL and more venues currently use flash seat technology.
As live events continue evolving with technology, flash seats present an innovative platform to enhance ticket buying, management and entry. Both teams and fans can benefit from this account-based digital ticketing model as it transforms ticketing into a more secure, convenient and flexible experience.