The acquisition represents a major expansion of Ticketmaster's European ticket resale business and create an integrated platform on which consumers will be able to simultaneously review and compare ticket availability and pricing in the primary and resale categories.
Last month’s UK government All Party Select Committee's report into the secondary ticketing market effectively cleared the way for the big players in primary ticketing to move into secondary ticketing in the UK.
Ticketmaster’s acquisition further validates the secondary market in the UK and shows acceptance by the primary ticketing industry that secondary ticketing is the better option for fans looking for tickets.
Tommy Higgins, Executive Vice President of Ticketmaster Europe added, "This is a significant development of Ticketmaster's services to our clients and consumers in the UK, and it is the first step in our commitment to deliver secure exchange and resale services across Europe."
Eric Baker, CEO of viagogo.com and a global ticketing expert, said: “Ticketmaster has clearly realised what was spelt out in the DCMS report - the secondary market offers real benefits for fans and is a booming market. As the largest secondary ticketing exchange in Europe, we are always excited to see the further validation of the industry.”
