Deal Represents New Extension of Integrated eTicketing Beyond MLB SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--StubHub, the world’s largest ticket marketplace, is proud to announce a new partnership with the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League and its home venue, HSBC Arena. StubHub will also broaden its relationship with Tickets.com, a leading primary ticket provider, to enable an integrated ticketing solution for ticket resale for one of the NHL's premier teams and venues. This partnership marks the first time outside of the MLB Advanced Media relationship struck in 2007 that StubHub has partnered with a primary ticketing provider to offer this type of integrated service.
Coinciding with the start of the NHL’s regular season, StubHub will be recognized as the “Official Fan to Fan Ticket Marketplace” of the Buffalo Sabres. The agreement will further enhance the visibility and adoption of StubHub’s industry leading ticket marketplace among one of the most rabid fan bases in all of hockey. The Sabres join the Phoenix Coyotes as an NHL team partner making StubHub proudly aligned with more than 60 teams across professional sports leagues and the NCAA ranks.
Sabres season ticket holders will now have the ability to list tickets directly through their season ticket holder account on the team’s website and to easily have those tickets appear on the StubHub marketplace. The ticket information (including the barcode) is passed directly to StubHub, and when purchased, the tickets are delivered instantly via our Instant eDelivery fulfillment method. This functionality dramatically increases the potential sales for season ticket holder listings. Buyers simply print tickets off at home and head straight to the arena, making last minute purchases even that much more convenient.
“Along with the great service and primary ticketing solution that Tickets.com provides, an integrated platform between them and the number one secondary marketplace StubHub was another key benefit we were seeking to provide our fans. This partnership offers an unparalleled user experience and return on investment for our season ticket holders,” said Daniel J. DiPofi, Chief Operating Officer of Hockey Western New York, LLC.
Supporting the Sabres team partnership is a complementary relationship with HSBC Arena, the first comprehensive venue deal of its kind for StubHub. StubHub will also be recognized as the Official Fan to Fan Ticket Marketplace of HSBC arena, Western New York's premier sports and entertainment facility. Electronic integration for resale will become available for all HSBC events in the coming months. Located on Buffalo's waterfront, the state-of-the-art venue hosts the best concerts, ice shows, sporting events and family shows entertaining audiences of all ages. Since opening on September 21, 1996, more than 11 million people have attended the wide variety of events held at HSBC Arena.
“Expanding our relationship with StubHub to the Sabres, and potentially beyond, gives Tickets.com a world class offering for other teams who would like to integrate their primary ticketing solution with the leading online ticket marketplace,” said Steve DeMots, SVP Business Development, Tickets.com. “Tickets.com and StubHub working together provides a unique, comprehensive solution that is unmatched in the industry.”
StubHub will receive valuable marketing assets, including permanent signage at HSBC Arena, prominent online presence on the Sabres website, and email marketing to Sabres season ticket holders.
“It’s a landmark for StubHub to align with an entire arena, in addition to one of hockey’s most successful franchises,” said Danielle Maged, Head of Partnerships for StubHub. “Leveraging a more extensive relationship with Tickets.com enables both companies to provide the strongest packaged primary and secondary solution in the market. With this MLB-proven integration, and our new relationship with the Sabres and HSBC Arena, we are able to best serve Buffalo-area fans with the utmost in convenience and choice for tickets.”
About StubHub
StubHub is the world's largest ticket marketplace, enabling fans to buy and sell tickets to tens of thousands of sports, concert, theater and other live entertainment events. StubHub reinvented the ticket resale market in 2000 and continues to lead it through innovation. The company's unique online marketplace, dedicated solely to tickets, provides all fans the choice to buy or sell their tickets in a safe, convenient, and highly reliable environment. All transactions are processed and delivered by StubHub and backed by the company’s FanProtect Guarantee. Company partners include the New York Yankees, Chicago Bears and the University of Southern California along with nearly 60 teams in the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and NCAA complemented with music artists like Madonna and companies such as ESPN and American Express.
StubHub is an eBay company (NASDAQ:EBAY). For more information on StubHub, visit www.stubhub.com.
About Tickets.com
Tickets.com is a leading business-to-business ticketing solutions provider for live events. Our corporate offices are located in Costa Mesa, California. Tickets.com is a full service provider of integrated ticketing solutions designed to enable entertainment and sports organizations to sell tickets to consumers under the clients’ brand. These integrated solutions include the Internet, retail outlets, kiosks, call centers, and interactive voice response systems (IVRS).
The company enables its clients to capture, access and own consumer data through ticket sales, providing them with a 360 degree view of the buying habits and preferences of their fans and patrons to enhance their marketing efforts.
The company also sells tickets directly to consumers at www.tickets.com.
