Ticketmaster Rolls Out Next-Gen Digital Encrypted Tickets
While fans have increasingly embraced tickets they can redeem on their phones, the technology has always been a headache for box offices and venues.
While fans have increasingly embraced tickets they can redeem on their phones, the technology has always been a headache for box offices and venues.
Like print-at-home-tickets, the barcodes can be easily copied through a quick screen grab and sent to multiple people, resulting in an increase in fraud by unscrupulous ticket sellers. After years of outlining a potential solution, Ticketmaster has announced the launch of its much anticipated next generation digital ticket program SafeTix, which creates an encrypted barcode that refreshes every few seconds and allows fans to scan in for a show or sporting event as they walk past a ticketing turnstile.
The technology ties in with Ticketmaster’s Presence software for venues and gives promoters and venue operators more control over how tickets are bought and shared, according to company officials who say it’s easier to understand who is in the building on an event night because each ticket is tied to a fan’s mobile phone.
SafeTix will be rolled out at NFL stadiums starting this summer and will be used for tours at venues on the Presence system.
“The tickets also include NFC technology that will allow fans to enter venues through a simple ‘tap and go’ experience at venue entrances,” a press release from Ticketmaster explains. “These enhancements protect against tickets being screenshotted or photocopied and sold multiple times by unscrupulous resellers.”
SafeTix will also include communication tools that will “allow event owners to communicate directly with event attendees, providing fans with relevant venue or event-specific instructions or personalized food and beverage or merchandise offers while they are on site, and engaging with them after an event is over,” according to a release.