Mobile ticketing company Gametime has signed a multiyear, exclusive partnership with Bleacher Report to have its ticket listings embedded directly into the popular Team Stream mobile application.
The deal, more than a year in development, calls for Gametime’s last-minute ticket listings to appear directly within the Team Stream content flow, allowing users to move from an article or schedule page to an event ticket purchase with a few swipes on a mobile device.
The Gametime-Bleacher Report alignment mirrors a partnership ESPN and StubHub have held for years in which StubHub resale listings appear on ESPN digital properties, and another between Sports Illustrated and discount ticket operation ScoreBig. But given Gametime’s clear focus on last-minute, mobile-based purchases and Bleacher Report’s younger audience skew, the deal is heavily focused on engaging millennial customers.
Additionally, about 10 percent of Gametime purchases now occur for events that have already started, creating a window of sales opportunity that generally does not exist elsewhere in ticket resale.
Both Gametime and Bleacher Report are based in San Francisco, which aided deal negotiations.
“Where this started is they are a neighbor with a well-liked app that a lot of people in our office already use on a regular basis,” said Colin Evans, Gametime chief revenue officer. “Working together, we now have an opportunity to create a truly unique experience that is exclusive to mobile, and really complements what each of us are doing.”
Financial terms were not disclosed, but Bleacher Report will receive the higher of either a fixed, minimum royalty or a commission on sales generated through the partnership. Ticket listings will begin appearing between 24 and 72 hours before each event.
Team Stream is typically one of the most heavily trafficked U.S. sports apps each month, both in terms of reach and engagement, according to measurement agency comScore.
The Bleacher Report partnership extends a recent run of activity for Gametime that also includes the creation of a loyalty program and an expansion into college football ticketing.
