Venues Today
By Dave Brooks
After years of opposing the resale of event tickets, the Vancouver Olympic Committee has introduced the first Olympic-sanctioned ticketing resale program. Powered by Tickets.com, the new system has separate tiers for consumers to sell tickets to other consumers, and an additional site for sponsors to trade and resell tickets to other sponsors.
For Canadian ticket buyers, the “fan-to-fan” marketplace at vancouver2010.com is designed to help fill empty seats and create a safe, reliable resale market where fans can sell their tickets without having to worry if they are stolen or counterfeit. Only Canadians who purchased their tickets through the VANOC system are allowed to list and sell tickets, although international visitors are allowed to view and purchase tickets.
“Obviously with any event out there, there is a secondary market, but we wanted to make sure we could keep control of it,” said Thomas Benson, director of Ticketing for Tickets.com’s Olympic operations. “Nothing is worse than somebody who shows up for the opening ceremonies and bought a ticket from a guy on the corner and it turns out the ticket is not valid after they shelled out $1,500. That’s pretty heart breaking. This is legitimate and it’s the only guaranteed way to get a ticket on the secondary market.”
The Olympic secondary marketplace will operate like most other sites — there will be no limits on price markup (although tickets can’t be sold below face), and like Tickets.com’s deal with StubHub and Major League Baseball, all tickets will be re-barcoded and reprinted for the buyer once the sale is complete. Secondary buyers will pick up their tickets from the will call window. VANOC will charge a 10-percent fee to both the seller and buyer for each transaction.
The VANOC team originally considered putting some limitations on how high a ticket could be marked up, but decided to scrap the caps.
“Basically we want to get as many people into the system as we can and as soon as you put a limit on it they go to Craigslist and sell their ticket because there is no limit there,” Benson said.
The other system announced was a platform for sponsors to sell and trade tickets to other sponsors. Unlike the consumer website, sponsors are not allowed to mark up the price of tickets, nor are they allowed to sell the tickets to the general public. If a sponsor has a difficult time filling a particular seat, they can consign the tickets to VANOC, which will place the inventory back into the primary market at no cost to the sponsor.
“Sponsors cannot directly sell to the public. VANOC was very adamant that sponsors should not be trying to pass off the tickets they purchased. They didn’t sign a sponsorship agreement so that they can scalp tickets. The sponsors are only allowed to sell to each other at face value,” Benson said.
The system was not budgeted for in the original Olympic contract with Tickets.com, explained Caley Denton, VANOC’s vice president for ticketing and consumer marketing. The fees on the consumer site are designed to help the platform pay for itself, and Denton said tickets can only be listed for up to 24 hours before an event.
“The message to the consumer is simple. If someone’s selling tickets outside of our Web site, people need to ask themselves why are they doing that and [question if that is a valid ticket],” Denton said during a press conference on Dec. 21. “We expect fairly high prices to start, as people test the market. Tickets will go quickly on the site, so people who are interested in a particular event should go fairly often.”
The other goal the new system achieves is striking a balance between sponsor tickets and public tickets. The goal was to have 70 percent of all tickets — and at least 30 percent of any event — available to the public. Allowing sponsors to consign tickets to the public through the site returns some high demand tickets into the hands of the public without a high-markup, said Dave Cobb, deputy CEO of the VANOC games, pointing out that the committee was also much more careful how sponsor tickets were allotted this year.
“We expect to have a minimum of 40 percent high demand tickets for each session [available to the public],” he said. “We think that’s a result of being very careful [during our review of ticket purchases] and making sure they are valid orders. That resulted in a significant reduction of tickets and provided 80,000 tickets more than we started with.”
If sponsors can’t trade or consign unwanted Olympic tickets, VANOC also has a site to donate the tickets to “children and families, Aboriginal peoples, and residents of Vancouver’s inner-city neighborhoods” through its Celebrate 2010 program. VANOC organizers hope to provide 50,000 free tickets to the public. Fans can donate their tickets for free on VANOC’s website, although Canadian law prevents them from writing off the tickets as a tax deduction.
Showing posts with label 2010 olympics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010 olympics. Show all posts
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Friday, June 5, 2009
Over 150,000 tickets to Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games up for sale June 6
Canadians can still purchase tickets to all events, including gold medal ice hockey, curling and ceremonies
VANCOUVER, May 29 /CNW/ - Canadians hoping to land dream tickets to an Olympic ice hockey showdown or the emotional spectacle of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will have another opportunity to secure tickets starting at 10:00 am (Pacific Time) Saturday, June 6 when the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) releases more than 150,000 tickets for sale to the public at www.vancouver2010.com.
Tickets for every sporting event, as well as the Opening, Closing and nightly Victory Ceremonies at the 2010 Winter Games will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
"This is a major release of tickets before the 2010 Winter Games, and is the best remaining opportunity for Canadian Olympic fans to get their hands on tickets," said Caley Denton, vice president, ticketing and consumer marketing for VANOC. "We want to make sure everyone's ready on Saturday morning, so take a minute to register a ticketing account if you don't already have one and have a look at the schedules ahead of time. Whether you're an ice hockey or a biathlon fan, or love the drama and colour of the ceremonies, tickets to every event will be available. We've worked hard to make as many tickets available as possible, and based on the enthusiasm shown by Canadians we anticipate demand will be high."
In addition to the more than 150,000 competition and Opening and Closing Ceremonies tickets, this marks the first time thousands of Victory Ceremony tickets will be available as single tickets for $22. Previously they could only be purchased through the bundled Olympic Experience Packages available in the first round of sales. The nightly ceremonies at BC Place in downtown Vancouver will pay tribute to the medal-winning athletes as the International Olympic Committee recognizes the day's accomplishments. Following the medal presentations, the athletes' triumphs will be honoured with a celebration concert featuring renowned entertainers.
On June 6, ticket customers visiting www.vancouver2010.com will be directed to a virtual waiting room, where they will be randomly selected to enter the Vancouver 2010 ticketing website. Once signed into their account, customers will be able to purchase up to four separate events, with a limit of four tickets per event. If a customer wants to order more than the limit of six events, they will need to start a new transaction.
Helpful tips:
-------------
- To save time, previously registered customers are advised to sign
into their ticketing account at www.vancouver2010.com before June 6
to ensure their username and password are up-to-date and functional.
- New customers without an existing account can save time by pre-
registering an account before June 6.
- The Competition Schedule, including the draws for the ice hockey
tournaments for the Games and ticket prices, is posted on
www.vancouver2010.com to make it easier for customers to plan their
ticket-buying strategy ahead of time.
- VANOC reminds customers that Visa is the only payment card accepted.
- Customers will also have the option to select an offline payment
and mail in a cheque.
- Entry to the system is random - refreshing the web page will not
reduce your wait time.
- Plan ahead for purchases and ensure you have sufficient credit
available in your account as purchases will be charged immediately.
- Be wary of tickets offered for sale through unofficial channels. The
only official sources for Canadians for tickets to the Vancouver 2010
Olympic Winter Games are www.vancouver2010.com (in partnership with VANOC's official ticketing services supplier Tickets.com) and
official 2010 Winter Games hospitality partners Jet Set Sports and
CoSport.
- Be vigilant about individuals or companies offering "guaranteed"
tickets for sale. For most people, even a "money-back" guarantee
is little consolation for the disappointment, inconvenience and
embarrassment they will experience if they discover at the gate
that their ticket is invalid.
- Customers may also purchase tickets by phone at 1.800.TICKETS
(1.800.842.5387), and a TDD/TTY service is available for persons who
are deaf or hard of hearing at 604.629.7140.
Background
Beginning on October 3, 2008 the Canadian public was invited to submit requests for tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Within a month, Canadian residents had submitted requests for more than $345 million in tickets. This overwhelming response was 4.5 times greater than the first phase of ticketing sales for the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games ($75 million over nine weeks), the most recent Olympic Games held in North America. As a result, approximately 120 of 170 ticketed sessions for the 2010 Winter Games were allocated by lottery.
On December 12, 2008, remaining tickets from this first phase allotment were re-released for sale exclusively to ticket buyers who had participated in the initial ticket-request period; the remaining inventory was sold that day.
Earlier this month, VANOC opened the sale of tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. Strong demand saw all available inventory to the gold medal ice sledge hockey game sold on the first day. Paralympic Games tickets will be available until June 5, but will be temporarily unavailable for purchase during Phase 2 of Olympic Games ticket sales.
About VANOC
VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.
For further information: Media Contact: Jason Macnaughton, Vancouver
2010, (604) 403-2734, jason_macnaughton@vancouver2010.com.
VANCOUVER, May 29 /CNW/ - Canadians hoping to land dream tickets to an Olympic ice hockey showdown or the emotional spectacle of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will have another opportunity to secure tickets starting at 10:00 am (Pacific Time) Saturday, June 6 when the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) releases more than 150,000 tickets for sale to the public at www.vancouver2010.com.
Tickets for every sporting event, as well as the Opening, Closing and nightly Victory Ceremonies at the 2010 Winter Games will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
"This is a major release of tickets before the 2010 Winter Games, and is the best remaining opportunity for Canadian Olympic fans to get their hands on tickets," said Caley Denton, vice president, ticketing and consumer marketing for VANOC. "We want to make sure everyone's ready on Saturday morning, so take a minute to register a ticketing account if you don't already have one and have a look at the schedules ahead of time. Whether you're an ice hockey or a biathlon fan, or love the drama and colour of the ceremonies, tickets to every event will be available. We've worked hard to make as many tickets available as possible, and based on the enthusiasm shown by Canadians we anticipate demand will be high."
In addition to the more than 150,000 competition and Opening and Closing Ceremonies tickets, this marks the first time thousands of Victory Ceremony tickets will be available as single tickets for $22. Previously they could only be purchased through the bundled Olympic Experience Packages available in the first round of sales. The nightly ceremonies at BC Place in downtown Vancouver will pay tribute to the medal-winning athletes as the International Olympic Committee recognizes the day's accomplishments. Following the medal presentations, the athletes' triumphs will be honoured with a celebration concert featuring renowned entertainers.
On June 6, ticket customers visiting www.vancouver2010.com will be directed to a virtual waiting room, where they will be randomly selected to enter the Vancouver 2010 ticketing website. Once signed into their account, customers will be able to purchase up to four separate events, with a limit of four tickets per event. If a customer wants to order more than the limit of six events, they will need to start a new transaction.
Helpful tips:
-------------
- To save time, previously registered customers are advised to sign
into their ticketing account at www.vancouver2010.com before June 6
to ensure their username and password are up-to-date and functional.
- New customers without an existing account can save time by pre-
registering an account before June 6.
- The Competition Schedule, including the draws for the ice hockey
tournaments for the Games and ticket prices, is posted on
www.vancouver2010.com to make it easier for customers to plan their
ticket-buying strategy ahead of time.
- VANOC reminds customers that Visa is the only payment card accepted.
- Customers will also have the option to select an offline payment
and mail in a cheque.
- Entry to the system is random - refreshing the web page will not
reduce your wait time.
- Plan ahead for purchases and ensure you have sufficient credit
available in your account as purchases will be charged immediately.
- Be wary of tickets offered for sale through unofficial channels. The
only official sources for Canadians for tickets to the Vancouver 2010
Olympic Winter Games are www.vancouver2010.com (in partnership with VANOC's official ticketing services supplier Tickets.com) and
official 2010 Winter Games hospitality partners Jet Set Sports and
CoSport.
- Be vigilant about individuals or companies offering "guaranteed"
tickets for sale. For most people, even a "money-back" guarantee
is little consolation for the disappointment, inconvenience and
embarrassment they will experience if they discover at the gate
that their ticket is invalid.
- Customers may also purchase tickets by phone at 1.800.TICKETS
(1.800.842.5387), and a TDD/TTY service is available for persons who
are deaf or hard of hearing at 604.629.7140.
Background
Beginning on October 3, 2008 the Canadian public was invited to submit requests for tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Within a month, Canadian residents had submitted requests for more than $345 million in tickets. This overwhelming response was 4.5 times greater than the first phase of ticketing sales for the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games ($75 million over nine weeks), the most recent Olympic Games held in North America. As a result, approximately 120 of 170 ticketed sessions for the 2010 Winter Games were allocated by lottery.
On December 12, 2008, remaining tickets from this first phase allotment were re-released for sale exclusively to ticket buyers who had participated in the initial ticket-request period; the remaining inventory was sold that day.
Earlier this month, VANOC opened the sale of tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. Strong demand saw all available inventory to the gold medal ice sledge hockey game sold on the first day. Paralympic Games tickets will be available until June 5, but will be temporarily unavailable for purchase during Phase 2 of Olympic Games ticket sales.
About VANOC
VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.
For further information: Media Contact: Jason Macnaughton, Vancouver
2010, (604) 403-2734, jason_macnaughton@vancouver2010.com.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Phase 1 ticket inventory for 2010 Olympic Winter Games going, going, gone
Additional tickets to go on sale in mid 2009
(Canada Newswire English Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)
VANCOUVER, Dec. 12 /CNW/ - A mere five hours after they were re-released for sale today, the remaining available tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games in the Priority Access Period have been sold, reported the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games (VANOC) this afternoon. The next phase of Vancouver 2010 ticket sales will occur in mid-2009. VANOC will begin selling tickets to the Paralympic Winter Games on May 6, 2009. VANOC is continuing to work with tickets.com on an authorized ticket resale program where people will be able to offer their tickets for sale, and customers will be able to buy with confidence knowing tickets are legitimate. Further details will be announced later in 2009.
"Once again, we have been amazed by the interest and support shown by Canadians in tickets to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games," said Caley Denton, VANOC vice-president ticketing and consumer marketing. "Our website was overwhelmed today and we want to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and patience. We encourage anyone who wants tickets in the future to sign up for updates at www.vancouver2010.com."
The tickets today were only available to Canadians who requested tickets in Phase 1 of sales, which ended November 7. The Priority Access Period was originally scheduled to run from today to December 22. Earlier this week, VANOC invited ticket account holders to sign into their ticket account at www.vancouver2010.com to find out what tickets they had received from their earlier requests this fall.
(Canada Newswire English Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)
VANCOUVER, Dec. 12 /CNW/ - A mere five hours after they were re-released for sale today, the remaining available tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games in the Priority Access Period have been sold, reported the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games (VANOC) this afternoon. The next phase of Vancouver 2010 ticket sales will occur in mid-2009. VANOC will begin selling tickets to the Paralympic Winter Games on May 6, 2009. VANOC is continuing to work with tickets.com on an authorized ticket resale program where people will be able to offer their tickets for sale, and customers will be able to buy with confidence knowing tickets are legitimate. Further details will be announced later in 2009.
"Once again, we have been amazed by the interest and support shown by Canadians in tickets to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games," said Caley Denton, VANOC vice-president ticketing and consumer marketing. "Our website was overwhelmed today and we want to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and patience. We encourage anyone who wants tickets in the future to sign up for updates at www.vancouver2010.com."
The tickets today were only available to Canadians who requested tickets in Phase 1 of sales, which ended November 7. The Priority Access Period was originally scheduled to run from today to December 22. Earlier this week, VANOC invited ticket account holders to sign into their ticket account at www.vancouver2010.com to find out what tickets they had received from their earlier requests this fall.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tickets.com Client Spotlight: Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games tickets confirmed today for Canadians; ice hockey, curling and snowboard tickets still available
VANCOUVER, Dec. 10 /CNW/ - After five long weeks of patiently waiting, Canadians who requested 2010 Olympic Winter Games tickets in Phase 1 will find out today what tickets they have secured, and can start planning what additional tickets they'll look for when the Priority Access Period opens from December 12-22.
An e-mail sent today from the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will invite each account holder to log on to their ticket account at www.vancouver2010.com and view the result of their request. These same ticket buyers will also have the exclusive right to buy remaining tickets on a first-come, first-served basis beginning this Friday, December 12 at 9:00 am (Pacific Time). Any tickets remaining after this period, plus any tickets released from the contingency and any remaining Victory Ceremony tickets, will go on sale to the public in mid-2009. VANOC will begin selling tickets to the Paralympic Winter Games on May 6, 2009.
While demand for the majority of sports meant that many sessions were allocated by lottery, there are still tickets remaining, including tickets to preliminary sessions for high-demand sports such as ice hockey and curling. With competitions such as ice hockey, large-capacity venues such as Canada Hockey Place will allow a large number of fans to experience the thrill of seeing elite athletes compete at the highest level, as the shorter tournament competition format ensures every match holds particular significance as competitors vie to finish high in the standings to earn important rest days.
Along with the confirmation of ticket orders today, VANOC issued a reminder to fans to be wary of tickets offered for sale through channels other than www.vancouver2010.com (in partnership with VANOC's official ticketing services supplier tickets.com) and official 2010 Winter Games hospitality partners JetSet Sports and CoSport.
"We encourage everyone to be vigilant about individuals or companies offering "guaranteed" tickets for sale. For most people even a "money back" guarantee is little consolation for the disappointment, inconvenience and embarrassment they'll experience if they discover at the gate their ticket is invalid," said Caley Denton, VANOC vice-president ticketing and consumer marketing. "We are continuing to work with our partner tickets.com on an authorized ticket resale program where people will be able to offer their tickets for sale, and customers will be able to buy with confidence knowing our bar code technology has confirmed the tickets are legitimate."
Details on VANOC's official ticket resale market will be announced later in 2009; however, until then, VANOC's website www.vancouver2010.com or its official hospitality partners, JetSet Sports and CoSport, are the only Canadian sources where people can be confident their 2010 Winter Games tickets are authentic.
About VANOC
VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.
VANCOUVER, Dec. 10 /CNW/ - After five long weeks of patiently waiting, Canadians who requested 2010 Olympic Winter Games tickets in Phase 1 will find out today what tickets they have secured, and can start planning what additional tickets they'll look for when the Priority Access Period opens from December 12-22.
An e-mail sent today from the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will invite each account holder to log on to their ticket account at www.vancouver2010.com and view the result of their request. These same ticket buyers will also have the exclusive right to buy remaining tickets on a first-come, first-served basis beginning this Friday, December 12 at 9:00 am (Pacific Time). Any tickets remaining after this period, plus any tickets released from the contingency and any remaining Victory Ceremony tickets, will go on sale to the public in mid-2009. VANOC will begin selling tickets to the Paralympic Winter Games on May 6, 2009.
While demand for the majority of sports meant that many sessions were allocated by lottery, there are still tickets remaining, including tickets to preliminary sessions for high-demand sports such as ice hockey and curling. With competitions such as ice hockey, large-capacity venues such as Canada Hockey Place will allow a large number of fans to experience the thrill of seeing elite athletes compete at the highest level, as the shorter tournament competition format ensures every match holds particular significance as competitors vie to finish high in the standings to earn important rest days.
Along with the confirmation of ticket orders today, VANOC issued a reminder to fans to be wary of tickets offered for sale through channels other than www.vancouver2010.com (in partnership with VANOC's official ticketing services supplier tickets.com) and official 2010 Winter Games hospitality partners JetSet Sports and CoSport.
"We encourage everyone to be vigilant about individuals or companies offering "guaranteed" tickets for sale. For most people even a "money back" guarantee is little consolation for the disappointment, inconvenience and embarrassment they'll experience if they discover at the gate their ticket is invalid," said Caley Denton, VANOC vice-president ticketing and consumer marketing. "We are continuing to work with our partner tickets.com on an authorized ticket resale program where people will be able to offer their tickets for sale, and customers will be able to buy with confidence knowing our bar code technology has confirmed the tickets are legitimate."
Details on VANOC's official ticket resale market will be announced later in 2009; however, until then, VANOC's website www.vancouver2010.com or its official hospitality partners, JetSet Sports and CoSport, are the only Canadian sources where people can be confident their 2010 Winter Games tickets are authentic.
About VANOC
VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Volume heavy as tickets for 2010 Winter Olympics go on sale
VANCOUVER — Demand for tickets to the 2010 Winter Olympics appeared to be heavy in the first eight hours after tickets went on sale Friday, organizers said.
"We had about 30 times our normal volume when we turned it on first thing this morning," said Caley Denton, the Vancouver Olympic Committee's vice-president of ticketing and consumer marketing.
Demand for the estimated 1.6 million tickets publicly available tickets was steady from all across Canada, he said.
Sales are not on a first-come, first-serve basis. Instead, organizers have established a five-week process designed to give would-be spectators ample time to make choices.
The process was also designed to thwart scalpers trying to snap up tickets to the best events before anyone else had a chance to even whip out a credit card.
"We did a lot of load testing on the site," Denton said of the five years of planning that preceded the launch at midnight Pacific time.
"We knew we would get high volume but at the same time we did a lot of testing to make sure we could handle it, and it is going as planned."
The organizing committee will accept applications until Nov. 7. Tickets will be allocated after that.
If there is more demand for an event than there are seats, a lottery will be held and winners will be notified late next month or early in December.
Requests can be submitted either online or through a paper application. Purchasers must register an account at Vancouver2010.com.
"We had about 30 times our normal volume when we turned it on first thing this morning," said Caley Denton, the Vancouver Olympic Committee's vice-president of ticketing and consumer marketing.
Demand for the estimated 1.6 million tickets publicly available tickets was steady from all across Canada, he said.
Sales are not on a first-come, first-serve basis. Instead, organizers have established a five-week process designed to give would-be spectators ample time to make choices.
The process was also designed to thwart scalpers trying to snap up tickets to the best events before anyone else had a chance to even whip out a credit card.
"We did a lot of load testing on the site," Denton said of the five years of planning that preceded the launch at midnight Pacific time.
"We knew we would get high volume but at the same time we did a lot of testing to make sure we could handle it, and it is going as planned."
The organizing committee will accept applications until Nov. 7. Tickets will be allocated after that.
If there is more demand for an event than there are seats, a lottery will be held and winners will be notified late next month or early in December.
Requests can be submitted either online or through a paper application. Purchasers must register an account at Vancouver2010.com.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Ticket Industry News: Tickets to the 2010 Olympic Games
Reseller market not cowed by 2010 organizers plans to crack down on scalpers
VANCOUVER — People who fail to nab any of the scarce tickets that will be available for the 2010 Olympic Games shouldn't worry, says a leading Vancouver ticket broker.
He'll have them for sale - and soon. Despite Vancouver Games organizers' repeated claim that they'll police tickets sold outside authorized channels, going so far as invalidating them, the resale market will not be cowed, said Mario Livich of ShowTime tickets.
"We'll be very active in selling thousands of tickets for the 2010 Games," he said.
"It's a legal business, the buying and selling of tickets, and it's a much-valued service in the marketplace."
Tickets for the Vancouver Olympics go on sale Oct. 3 through an application system that will allow people just over a month to decide how many and which tickets they'd like to buy for the Games.
For those events where demand exceeds supply tickets will be sold via a lottery system.
While tickets for single events will be for sale, organizers are also promoting 58 different "Olympic experience" packages which combine multiple events at prices ranging from $140 to $1,267.
Package orders will be filled before individual events, so organizers say the best shot at some of the most popular and expensive seats will be to buy packages.
The lowest price for a single sporting event ticket is $25, while the highest is $775 for a gold-medal hockey ticket. That's not including surcharges or the cost of transportation, numbers that won't be available until closer to Oct. 3.
Over a million Olympic tickets will be available to the masses, but organizers have admitted that at events like gold-medal hockey, the vast majority of seats are being sold to "Olympic family" members, including sponsors and officials. The number of tickets that will be allotted to the public for each event has not been released.
That's why a brisk resale market is inevitable, Livich said.
"Something of this magnitude touches all aspects of society and people want to be part of it in any way they can," he said.
He predicted having tickets for sale as early as this fall, though he declined to say where he would get them. The first phase of official ticket sales ends Nov. 7.
Empty seats were common at many of the less popular Games events in Beijing, which was blamed in part on Olympic sponsors and officials who didn't use their tickets.
Street scalpers said their inventory mostly came from those two groups.
At the same time, scores of people showed up in Beijing with tickets they'd bought online that turned out to be fake.
Vancouver organizers are well within their rights to make sure none of that happens, said Larry Witherspoon, the chief executive officer of Tickets.com, the company working with Vancouver to provide ticket sales and support.
"Given enough time and effort I think you can go through and comb sites and ensure you aren't seeing any tickets that aren't authorized out there," Witherspoon said, though he acknowledged it's hard to police those posted by regular folks just looking to make a buck.
Tickets.com is helping Vancouver organizers build their resale system, expected to launch next year.
"The secondary market exists because the primary market ticketing providers never addressed it back seven or eight years ago," said Witherspoon.
"So they allowed the niche to form which actually became a pretty popular and powerful niche that generates a lot of revenue."
The resale ticket industry is estimated to be worth about $6 billion worldwide, lucrative enough that primary ticket sellers like Ticketmaster have jumped on the bandwagon, snapping up resale companies.
The resellers make their money by marking up prices as high as the market will bear.
During the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, resellers were hawking gold-medal tickets for over $1,000, for tickets sold originally for a maximum of $540.
But Vancouver organizers stress their market will be different.
"There's no need for a middle man," said Dave Cobb, vice-president of marketing for the organizing committee.
"(Their) pure objective is to make as much money as they possibly can."
Organizers' aim is not to allow tickets to be sold for more than their face value.
Livich applauds the effort but says it just might not work.
"Their threat may put a bit of a chill on people who wish to sell their tickets for whatever reason, whether for profit or they can't make an event, and the worry is this could result in empty seats which doesn't serve anybody's interest," he said.
"I think that should be the main focus of any ticket initiative - to make sure there are bums in the seats."
The final capacities of venues also won't be decided until much closer to the start of the Games on Feb. 12, 2010.
Learn more about Tickets.com >
VANCOUVER — People who fail to nab any of the scarce tickets that will be available for the 2010 Olympic Games shouldn't worry, says a leading Vancouver ticket broker.
He'll have them for sale - and soon. Despite Vancouver Games organizers' repeated claim that they'll police tickets sold outside authorized channels, going so far as invalidating them, the resale market will not be cowed, said Mario Livich of ShowTime tickets.
"We'll be very active in selling thousands of tickets for the 2010 Games," he said.
"It's a legal business, the buying and selling of tickets, and it's a much-valued service in the marketplace."
Tickets for the Vancouver Olympics go on sale Oct. 3 through an application system that will allow people just over a month to decide how many and which tickets they'd like to buy for the Games.
For those events where demand exceeds supply tickets will be sold via a lottery system.
While tickets for single events will be for sale, organizers are also promoting 58 different "Olympic experience" packages which combine multiple events at prices ranging from $140 to $1,267.
Package orders will be filled before individual events, so organizers say the best shot at some of the most popular and expensive seats will be to buy packages.
The lowest price for a single sporting event ticket is $25, while the highest is $775 for a gold-medal hockey ticket. That's not including surcharges or the cost of transportation, numbers that won't be available until closer to Oct. 3.
Over a million Olympic tickets will be available to the masses, but organizers have admitted that at events like gold-medal hockey, the vast majority of seats are being sold to "Olympic family" members, including sponsors and officials. The number of tickets that will be allotted to the public for each event has not been released.
That's why a brisk resale market is inevitable, Livich said.
"Something of this magnitude touches all aspects of society and people want to be part of it in any way they can," he said.
He predicted having tickets for sale as early as this fall, though he declined to say where he would get them. The first phase of official ticket sales ends Nov. 7.
Empty seats were common at many of the less popular Games events in Beijing, which was blamed in part on Olympic sponsors and officials who didn't use their tickets.
Street scalpers said their inventory mostly came from those two groups.
At the same time, scores of people showed up in Beijing with tickets they'd bought online that turned out to be fake.
Vancouver organizers are well within their rights to make sure none of that happens, said Larry Witherspoon, the chief executive officer of Tickets.com, the company working with Vancouver to provide ticket sales and support.
"Given enough time and effort I think you can go through and comb sites and ensure you aren't seeing any tickets that aren't authorized out there," Witherspoon said, though he acknowledged it's hard to police those posted by regular folks just looking to make a buck.
Tickets.com is helping Vancouver organizers build their resale system, expected to launch next year.
"The secondary market exists because the primary market ticketing providers never addressed it back seven or eight years ago," said Witherspoon.
"So they allowed the niche to form which actually became a pretty popular and powerful niche that generates a lot of revenue."
The resale ticket industry is estimated to be worth about $6 billion worldwide, lucrative enough that primary ticket sellers like Ticketmaster have jumped on the bandwagon, snapping up resale companies.
The resellers make their money by marking up prices as high as the market will bear.
During the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, resellers were hawking gold-medal tickets for over $1,000, for tickets sold originally for a maximum of $540.
But Vancouver organizers stress their market will be different.
"There's no need for a middle man," said Dave Cobb, vice-president of marketing for the organizing committee.
"(Their) pure objective is to make as much money as they possibly can."
Organizers' aim is not to allow tickets to be sold for more than their face value.
Livich applauds the effort but says it just might not work.
"Their threat may put a bit of a chill on people who wish to sell their tickets for whatever reason, whether for profit or they can't make an event, and the worry is this could result in empty seats which doesn't serve anybody's interest," he said.
"I think that should be the main focus of any ticket initiative - to make sure there are bums in the seats."
The final capacities of venues also won't be decided until much closer to the start of the Games on Feb. 12, 2010.
Learn more about Tickets.com >
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Canada Set for Olympic Influx
14th August 2008, 7:45 WST
While the world is still in an Olympic mood, the City of Vancouver would like to remind you that it’s next in line to be host, and as of September 1 there’ll be just 529 days until the 21st Winter Games.
Vancouver will share the honour with the popular resort town of Whistler, in the Garibaldi Mountains 120km to the north, from February 12-28, 2010, followed by the Winter Paralympic Games in both centres from March 12-21.
The opening ceremony will be at BC Place Stadium, a covered arena, starting at 6pm local time (noon (AEST) on February 13); medal ceremonies will be held in both Vancouver and Whistler.
It will be the first time in modern Games history that the Olympic flame will be lit indoors - after the torch is carried from Olympia in Greece over the North Pole and through the Arctic down Canada’s West Coast to Vancouver.
The Games website for details of the program, background, tickets and accommodation is www.vancouver2010.com
Tickets will go on sale from this October, through Tickets.com in Canada and through the national Olympic committees of other countries.
Vancouver is the second Canadian city to host the Winter Olympics, after Calgary, Alberta, in 1988. The summer Olympics were held in Montreal in 1976 then Toronto was outvoted in favour of Beijing in 2008.
Vancouver’s Olympic Village will be in the waterfront southeastern False Creek district, an area being developed for residential and commercial buildings. In Whistler it will be in the nearby Cheakamus Valley.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Tickets.com selected as Official Supplier of ticket services for the 2010 Winter Games
Vancouver, BC - January 24, 2008 - The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) announced today that it has selected Tickets.com as its official supplier of ticket services within Canada for the 2010 Winter Games.
The five-year partnership provides Tickets.com with Official Supplier sponsorship rights in the "ticket service provider" category, in addition to the sponsorship rights to the Canadian Team participating at the Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games.
"The sale and distribution of tickets in Canada will be key to the success of the 2010 Winter Games and we have selected a ticketing service provider that will help us offer a user friendly, fair and equitable system for the distribution of tickets with excellence in customer service," said Caley Denton, Vice President, Ticketing and Consumer Marketing at VANOC. "Tickets.com has an impressive track record and extensive Olympic ticketing experience, having managed the successful ticketing programs for the Atlanta 1996 Summer Games, and the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Games. Tickets.com's Olympic ticketing engine was also the backbone for ticket sales and distribution for the Sydney 2000 Summer Games and the Torino 2006 Winter Games."
read more | Français
The five-year partnership provides Tickets.com with Official Supplier sponsorship rights in the "ticket service provider" category, in addition to the sponsorship rights to the Canadian Team participating at the Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games.
"The sale and distribution of tickets in Canada will be key to the success of the 2010 Winter Games and we have selected a ticketing service provider that will help us offer a user friendly, fair and equitable system for the distribution of tickets with excellence in customer service," said Caley Denton, Vice President, Ticketing and Consumer Marketing at VANOC. "Tickets.com has an impressive track record and extensive Olympic ticketing experience, having managed the successful ticketing programs for the Atlanta 1996 Summer Games, and the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Games. Tickets.com's Olympic ticketing engine was also the backbone for ticket sales and distribution for the Sydney 2000 Summer Games and the Torino 2006 Winter Games."
read more | Français
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