S.F.-based mobile ticketing company Gametime is expanding into college football, adding tickets to more than 50 NCAA programs into its app. The company, which specializes in last-minute, mobile-based orders, piloted college football ticket availability last year with Cal and Stanford, and now will offer inventory for Ohio State, Oregon, Baylor, USC, LSU and Michigan, among many others. "Increasing access to college football is a natural next step, and will appeal to our demographic that is younger than the traditional sports consumer," said Brad Griffith, Gametime Founder & Chief Exec. Meanwhile, Spectra Ticketing & Fan Engagement yesterday entered into a multiyear partnership with ReplyBuy in which clients have the ability to sell tickets and merchandise via text-to-buy technology. Through the integration, mobile 2D barcode tickets will be delivered to a registered buyer’s phone instantly upon replying to the text and can be scanned at the event. “ReplyBuy has great technology and has been getting some traction in the sports and athletics market,” said Spectra VP/Marketing Craig Ricks. “They have an easy-to-use technology that will resonate really well with fans, especially the millennial generation.” In conjunction with the deal, Ricks said that Auburn today will announce a partnership with Spectra that coincides with the start of college football. He added that Auburn is looking to leverage the partnership “as an opportunity for exclusive offers.” Ricks: “Building out a text database is very similar to building out an e-mail database in that you can offer a coveted opportunity to a member simply on their phone. It really is frictionless. There is no need to even log in.” He added that the company is in the process of finalizing deals to “roll out with a few other clients in the short term” ahead of the college football season.
