Chinese Ticket Sellers Hope Modern Technology Betters Industry

Chinese Ticket Sellers Have High Hopes For Modernized Ticketing Technology

Numerous Chinese ticket brokers and ticketing-systems companies "are hoping modern ticketing technology will equalize access to tickets for consumers around the country, reduce shady ticket dealings and make the industry more profitable," according to Loretta Chao of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Chinese ticket sellers said that the recent crash of the online ticketing system for the '08 Beijing Olympics, operated by Ticketmaster and its Chinese partners, "illustrate[s] the need for a push for modern ticketing technology, including automated ticketing services that are commonplace in the U.S." Industry insiders said that some big venues "are starting to see the value in investing in ticketing companies' expertise," and U.S.-based brokers such as Ticketmaster and Tickets.com "also are jumping in." Shanghai-based China Ticketing.com just launched a Web site which "allows ticket buyers to view seating charts and real-time ticket availability online." Ticketing company CPAA "encourages buyers to use e-tickets, a service it said already is on the rise," for ticket pickup at venues and events. Additionally, Hong Kong's Cityline "hopes to eventually distribute tickets to buyers in mainland China through text messages on their mobile phones" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/20).