Ticketmaster signs O2 Arena Prague
Ticketmaster Czech Republic has become the preferred ticketing partner of O2 Arena Prague, in a significant deal that sees the company edge closer to local dominance.
Owned and operated by Bestsport, O2 Arena Prague is the largest indoor arena in the Czech Republic, with a capacity of 18,000. Starting from this month, tickets for all upcoming events, including concerts, sporting fixtures and other entertainment events, will be sold via Ticketmaster.
Ticketmaster entered the Czech market in early 2017 with the acquisition of Serge Grimaux’s Ticketpro. According to the International Ticketing Yearbook (ITY) 2018, Ticketpro/Ticketmaster is the second-largest primary ticket seller in the Czech Republic, after Ticketportal, which currently holds the O2 Arena contract.
“Among the key prizes in the Czech Republic is the contract of the 18,000-seat O2 Arena, opened in 2004 and owned by PPF Group’s Bestsport,” the ITY reads. “Ticketportal is the incumbent, and the arena keeps Prague firmly on the European circuit, with Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5, Eros Ramazzotti and local star Ben Cristovao on the calendar for 2019.”
While tickets will be still be allocated to Ticketportal, Ticketmaster becomes the official, preferred partner of the arena.
The O2 welcomed its ten-millionth visitor earlier this year, after a huge 2018 which saw concerts by Metallica, Depeche Mode and Imagine Dragons and sporting events such as FED Cup tennis and the IFF floorball championship.
“Ticketmaster was a natural choice for us, and our partnership will create many fantastic opportunities”
“Partnering with one of the country’s biggest and most innovative venues is hugely exciting for us, and a significant moment in our development following our launch in the Czech Republic two years ago,” says Simona Matějková, managing director of Ticketmaster Czech Republic (Ticketmaster Česká republika).
“As the O2 Arena Prague prepares to play host to some of the biggest names in music and sport in the coming months, we are looking forward to working with the venue and Bestsport to provide a simple and seamless experience for fans looking to buy tickets to some amazing events.”
Ticketmaster has already begun working with Bestsport, selling tickets for events hosted at the new O2 Universum, the O2 Arena’s multi-purpose next door neighbour, which is due to open in September 2019. The Universum can accommodate up to 4,500 visitors in its largest hall, with an overall capacity of 10,000 visitors using the space of all 21 halls.
Robert Schaffer, chairman of the Board and the CEO of Bestsport and O2 Arena Prague, comments: “As one of the most recognised global ticketing platforms, Ticketmaster was a natural choice for us, and our partnership will create many fantastic opportunities.
“Ticketmaster’s market-leading technology will help to simplify the process of selling tickets to fans at home and abroad, and opens up new possibilities in terms of promotion and exposure of the many exciting events we host at the O2 Arena Prague to audiences around the world.”
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