Ticketmaster returns to SMG Europe venues

SMG Europe, the UK and Europe’s largest operator of entertainment and sports venues, has announced Ticketmaster will become its official ticketing partner following the expiry of its existing contract with Eventim.

The agreement, described as following “the collaborative success achieved on the Bristol Arena venture” (which will be jointly operated by SMG Europe and Ticketmaster parent Live Nation when it opens in spring 2018), is expected to be be in place by summer of the same year. SMG’s European head office, in the 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena, is a stone’s throw from the Ticketmaster UK contact centre in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

“Our experienced team look forward to providing Ticketmaster’s best-in-class services to SMG venues across the UK yet again”

John Sharkey, SMG Europe’s executive vice-president of European operations, says: “I am delighted that the successes in project collaboration will be widened into an enlarged relationship with Ticketmaster as a strategic ticketing partner in due course.”

Ticketmaster UK MD Andrew Parsons adds: SMG Europe and Ticketmaster share the same ambitions: understand our audience, provide a premium service to promoters, sell tickets fast and, ultimately, get more tickets into the hands of fans. As such, we are thrilled to announce what will no doubt be a fruitful and enjoyable partnership. Our experienced team look forward to providing Ticketmaster’s best-in-class services to SMG venues across the UK yet again.”

The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Philadelphia-based SMG, partnered with Eventim in 2013.

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