The Timbers have signed a multiyear partnership with SeatGeek that will see the N.Y.-based ticket platform become the team’s marketplace provider for secondary tickets beginning with the ’17 season and its official primary ticketing provider starting in ’19. As part of the deal, the Timbers will utilize SeatGeek’s new open ticket distribution platform, SeatGeek Open. Financial terms were not disclosed. Previously, the Timbers were aligned with StubHub for its official secondary ticketing business, and its current primary ticketing provider is Spectra Ticketing & Fan Engagement. The deal follows a similar one SeatGeek signed last year with Sporting K.C. Timbers President of Business Mike Golub said that as its StubHub deal neared expiration, the club began to meet with several ticketing companies. After meeting with SeatGeek and speaking with Sporting K.C. about how they planned to utilize the SeatGeek platform, Golub said he felt a similar relationship and the open ticket philosophy best fit the way the club has approached ticketing, as well as mobile. Like Sporting K.C., the deal calls for Timbers tickets to be sold on a variety of third-party ticketing and e-commerce sites using SeatGeek technology. “This is another validation for open ticketing, and we’re excited to bring the Timbers on board,” said SeatGeek co-Founder Russ D'Souza. “This one is a little different given there is a bit more of a resale market [for the Timbers].” The Timbers also have a season-ticket base of more than 16,000, and have sold out every match since joining MLS in ’11. The SeatGeek deal will include the NWSL Portland Thorns, also owned by Timbers Owner Merritt Paulson.
FULL IMPLEMENTATION WITH SKC: SeatGeek this week is beginning single-game ticket sales for Sporting K.C., representing the first full implementation of the open ticketing technology. Season-ticket holders have already been migrated on to the platform, and the start of single-game ticket sales will see seats for the club being simultaneously on other ticketing outlets such as Gametime, Ticket Network and Vivid Seats, with a further expansion to other e-commerce outlets planned for later in ’17. “We think this model of distribution opens a lot of doors to us, and exposes the club to other fans and people perhaps not as immediately familiar with us,” said Sporting K.C. VP/Ticket Sales & Services Gregg Allen. The club and SeatGeek are also developing a concept in which the ticketing platform could be integrated into the digital platforms of club sponsors.
