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SBJ/July 25-31, 2011/People and Pop Culture
Former NBA Digital exec to lead AEG ticketing firm
Published July 25, 2011, Page 6
AEG has hired technology executive Bryan Perez to take charge of its new ticketing company, according to industry sources with knowledge of the move.
AEG officials refused to confirm that Perez had been hired. Perez, contacted by a third party, did not return an email for comment.
Perez was most recently senior vice president and general manager of NBA Digital, a position he held for three years. Previously, he was CEO for global digital at Live Nation, responsible for that company’s ticketing as well as Internet, wireless, and IT strategy and operations.
Perez also was involved in starting MLB Advanced Media in 2000, and he brokered the original deal for Tickets.com, which MLBAM acquired in 2005, to distribute tickets for individual clubs. He also worked in ticket sales for Madison Square Garden and the old Southwest Sports Group in Dallas.
Perez now grabs hold of another opportunity to develop a new ticketing company in a space where Ticketmaster, the sports industry’s dominant ticketer, faces increased competition from Tickets.com, Paciolan, New Era Tickets, Veritix and several smaller firms.
For AEG, the difference is its strength in sports and entertainment and ties to 115 venues through facility ownership, building operations, and booking and marketing deals. Together, those venues produce total ticketing revenue of roughly $400 million, company officials said.
Ticketmaster, now part of Live Nation Entertainment, holds the bulk of those ticketing deals.
In February, AEG announced the formation of a joint ticketing venture with Outbox Enterprises. Outbox, an established ticketing company in Montreal, operates ticketing for Bell Centre, home of the NHL Canadiens, as well as Cirque de Soleil’s worldwide tours.
Hiring Perez fills a critical need for AEG as he works with partner Outbox to grow the company.
“They need someone hands-on who knows the digital space and can guide those facilities through the transition,” said one source familiar with the organization.
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AEG officials refused to confirm that Perez had been hired. Perez, contacted by a third party, did not return an email for comment.
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Perez also was involved in starting MLB Advanced Media in 2000, and he brokered the original deal for Tickets.com, which MLBAM acquired in 2005, to distribute tickets for individual clubs. He also worked in ticket sales for Madison Square Garden and the old Southwest Sports Group in Dallas.
Perez now grabs hold of another opportunity to develop a new ticketing company in a space where Ticketmaster, the sports industry’s dominant ticketer, faces increased competition from Tickets.com, Paciolan, New Era Tickets, Veritix and several smaller firms.
For AEG, the difference is its strength in sports and entertainment and ties to 115 venues through facility ownership, building operations, and booking and marketing deals. Together, those venues produce total ticketing revenue of roughly $400 million, company officials said.
Ticketmaster, now part of Live Nation Entertainment, holds the bulk of those ticketing deals.
In February, AEG announced the formation of a joint ticketing venture with Outbox Enterprises. Outbox, an established ticketing company in Montreal, operates ticketing for Bell Centre, home of the NHL Canadiens, as well as Cirque de Soleil’s worldwide tours.
Hiring Perez fills a critical need for AEG as he works with partner Outbox to grow the company.
“They need someone hands-on who knows the digital space and can guide those facilities through the transition,” said one source familiar with the organization.
