Ticketek
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Event ticketing |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand |
| Products | Ticket distribution, Softix ticketing software, Eventopia platform |
| Owner | TEG Pty Ltd |
Ticketek is an event ticketing enterprise based in Australia, established in 1990 and currently owned by TEG Pty Ltd, with its main office located in Sydney. It oversees ticket distribution for a variety of entertainment and sports occasions throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Ticketek Pty Ltd promotes the Softix advanced ticketing software, created by its subsidiary Softix Pty Ltd, to clients worldwide. Additionally, it possesses Eventopia, a streamlined platform for ticket management.
History
Initially operating under the name Best Available Seating Service (Queensland) Pty Ltd (BASS), Ticketek originated as one of several Australian branches linked to the original Bay Area Seating Service (BASS) based in San Francisco. Other BASS affiliates included entities controlled by the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust and the Victorian Government, with the latter eventually acquired by Ticketmaster.
Ticketek was previously owned by Consolidated Press Holdings, a division of Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, until it was sold in 1999 to PBL’s internet arm ecorp. This division depended heavily on Ticketek's revenue following the launch of online ticket sales in Australia.
In 2000, Ticketek partnered with the Hong Kong Ticketing Alliance to create Ticketek Hong Kong. By 2003, ecorp divested its interest, and the operation was rebranded as Hong Kong Ticketing Limited.
Each year, Ticketek handles the sale of roughly 18 million tickets for over 13,000 events. The company maintains ticketing agreements with prominent venues such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Super Dome, and Sydney Entertainment Centre. It also managed ticket sales for the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney.
Purchasing tickets
Event tickets can be obtained through various channels including online platforms, telephone orders, mobile applications, or physical locations. Ticketek maintains retail outlets within major shopping centers, newsagents, pharmacies, and other establishments. These physical points of sale do not process phone bookings or inquiries; such requests must be directed either online or via the national phone booking line at 13 28 49.
Ticket delivery methods
Tickets can be printed at home using ezyticket, collected from a Ticketek outlet, or delivered by mail. Certain events provide digital tickets that customers can access on smartphones through email, passbook/iPhone app integration, website portals, or SMS.
Key events and venues
Ticketek manages ticket sales for numerous leading venues including:
- Accor Stadium
- Qudos Bank Arena
- Sydney Cricket Ground
- Allianz Stadium
- Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
- Rod Laver Arena
- AAMI Park
- Her Majesty's Theatre
- Crown Entertainment Complex
- Suncorp Stadium
- Brisbane Entertainment Centre
- Newcastle Entertainment Centre
- WIN Entertainment Centre (Wollongong)
- Canberra Stadium
- National Gallery of Australia
- Adelaide Entertainment Centre
- Adelaide Oval
- Crown Perth Entertainment Complex
- Regal Theatre (Perth)
- Perth Arena
The company also distributes tickets for major events such as the Australian Open Tennis Championships, Royal Melbourne Show, Royal Adelaide Show, and Clipsal 500 Adelaide.
Criticism
Ticketek has been criticized for imposing high booking fees and delivery costs. A 2009 evaluation by the Australian consumer publication Choice pointed out concerns including limited market competition, unclear pricing structures, and insufficient seat information prior to purchase. In 2012, both Ticketek and Ticketmaster were recipients of Choice’s Shonky Award due to excessive fee practices. Following legal proceedings initiated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Federal Court in Sydney imposed a $2.5 million penalty on Ticketek Pty Ltd for misuse of market dominance.
In 2018, during the week 1 AFL finals ticket release, Ticketek’s system experienced a crash that necessitated rescheduling and led to widespread dissatisfaction among customers.
In May 2024, a security breach compromised personal data of more than 16 million users, including birth dates, email addresses, names, passwords, and salutations. This information was later put up for sale on a cybercrime forum.