UEFA ‘Successfully’ Distributes Super Cup 2018 Tickets To Mobile Phones Via Blockchain

Mike Kireev/NurPhoto via Getty Images – UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, Aug. 15
Atletico Madrid players celebrate a goal in front of their supporters at Lillekula Stadium in Tallinn, Estonia

For last week’s Super Cup final between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid in Tallin, Estonia, Aug. 15, Europe’s main soccer association UEFA distributed 100 percent of mobile tickets using blockchain technology.

There were no paper tickets available for the match at Tallin’s Lilleküla Stadium, which has a capacity of around 13,000. As usual, some 70 percent of tickets were allocated to fans and the general public, with the remaining seats set aside for the local organizing committee, UEFA and national associations, commercial partners and broadcasters.

100 percent of the match tickets sold to the general public were distributed using a blockchain-based dedicated iOS and android app.

After purchasing their mobile ticket online, customers received a text message including a link to download the app. After registering within the app, they received their tickets, which had yet to be activated at the stadium entrance.

If they bought multiple tickets, they could transfer them to their friends, who would receive a similar text message prompting them to download the app.

The safe and simple transfer of tickets is one of the biggest selling-points of blockchain based ticket distribution.

UEFA combined the blockchain-based distribution system with mobile bluetooth devices at the stadium entrances, which were used to activate and the tickets, so they could be scanned at the gates.

UEFA says it has been fine-tuning the technology over several test events, the system was first used for 50 percent of tickets distributed to the general public for the 2018 UEFA Europa League final between Atlético and Marseille in Lyon, May 16.

“Following the successful implementation of the new system for the Lyon final, UEFA was able to increase the distribution system to all of the general public acquiring tickets for this year’s UEFA Super Cup match in Estonia,” the association states.

UEFA is using ticketing software by Secutix. Both companies recently extended their licensing agreement until 2021. The agreement includes the Euro 2020, the Champions League and Europa League finals, the Super Cup as well as the Nations League finals in 2019 and 2021.