Comcast Gets Its Own Tickets

Comcast-Spectacor is expected to launch its own ticketing service, ComcastTIX, at its flagship venues October 3rd.

Comcast’s contract with Ticketmaster ends October 2nd, at which point the company plans to implement its ticketing service at Philadelphia’s Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum, as well as The Liacouras Center at Temple University, the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, N.J., and the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City.

The change in ticketing service is a logical progression from Comcast-Spectacor’s announcement two years ago that it had invested in the in-house ticketing company Paciolan Technology.

In 2003, the company announced the purchase of New Era Ticketing, which was used for Comcast-Spectacor’s minor league baseball teams and two venues operated by Global Spectrum – Tennessee’s Germantown Performing Arts Centre and Wyoming’s Cheyenne Civic Center.

Fred Maglione, the ticketing firm’s president, told Pollstar at the time that he envisioned the company as a competitor of Ticketmaster. Its services were eventually added to the Budweiser Events Center, Charlotte Bobcats Arena, special events at Citizens Bank Park, Qwest Arena, Dodge Arena and several other venues.

“ComcastTIX provides our guests with a personalized service and additional opportunities in their ticket purchase experience,” Comcast-Spectacor President Peter Luukko said in a statement.

The service should allow season ticket holders to forward their Philadelphia Flyers tickets, for instance, to friends via e-mail, according to the company. Barcodes on the tickets will allow “stored value,” allowing patrons to use them for concessions and parking.