Nets ‘net’ SeatGeek as ticketing partner

Article posted by Coliseum, July 16^th, 2021

Image: Barclays Center

The National Basketball Association (NBA) team Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center (US) have signed a partnership to make SeatGeek the official ticketing partner for every event at one of United States busiest arenas.

‘yahoo!sports’ stated that the partnership with BSE Global, which manages the Joe Tsai-owned Nets and Barclays Center, starts in October this year. SeatGeek will become the exclusive ticket supplier for Nets games, New York Liberty games, concerts, and all other events.

The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn (US). The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at Barclays Center.

The 19,000-capacity Barclays Center is a multipurpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The arena is home to the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the New York Liberty of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).

New York (US)-based SeatGeek is a mobile-focused ticket platform that enables users to buy and sell tickets for live sports, concerts and theater events. SeatGeek allows both mobile app and desktop users to browse events, view interactive color-coded seat maps, complete purchases, and receive electronic or print tickets.

Brooklyn (New York, US)-based BSE Global develops and operates state-of-the-art venues and manages premier sports franchises, delivering dynamic content and experiences for audiences. BSE oversees programing, marketing, sales, and operations for Barclays Center.

‘yahoo!sports’ further stated that the deal is a change for BSE, which is presently working with Ticketmaster. It’s also a landmark deal for SeatGeek, which started as a secondary marketplace but is gradually adding direct relationships with teams and venues.

According to SeatGeek Co-Founder and CEO Jack Groetzinger, not only is this the largest ticketing deal by volume in company history, but the variety of shows should help SeatGeek grow into new communities – “They have so much content coming through Barclays Center, and it’s really diverse, from concerts to basketball to family events. That gives us lots of ways to show off SeatGeek.”

The Barclays Center had more than 200 ticketed events per year in a pre-COVID world. It is both one of the busiest and highest grossing arenas in the United States. Financial specifics weren’t released.

The deal includes access to SeatGeek’s software, platform and app – where Nets fans will be able to buy, transfer, sell, and scan tickets – plus its arena map and price evaluation products. There are resale benefits as well. The partnership will make it easier for ticket-holders to list on SeatGeek, and the Nets can push fans in that direction.

It also includes more traditional marketing aspects. The main gathering area in front of the arena will be renamed SeatGeek Plaza, and the company will have advertising opportunities during games.

BSE Global CEO John Abbamondi stated, “BSE Global and SeatGeek have similar DNA when it comes to innovating and adapting to the ever-evolving preferences of the live event consumer market.”

SeatGeek was founded in 2009 as a mobile-first ticketing platform. Its backers include Causeway Media Partners (co-founded by NBA team Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck), Melo7 Tech Partners (co-founded by Carmelo Anthony) and Elysian Park Ventures (founded by the owners of the Major League Baseball [MLB] team Los Angeles Dodgers). Individual investors include American rapper Nas and former NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning.

The company, headquartered in New York City, has deals with the NFL teams Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Major League Soccer. This is the second NBA venue it has under contract, joining the NBA team Cleveland Cavaliers residence – the 20,562-capacity Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.

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