FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 4, 2015

Toronto, Ontario – The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) announces the closure of T.O.TIX Toronto’s One-Stop Ticket Shop effective May 14, 2016, and the transition of ticket operations to TOnight, the state-of-the-art TAPA app that features geo-locating and a virtual theatre map.

In spite of expanding ticket inventory to include sports, attractions, film festivals and numerous music events, T.O.TIX has consistently been unable to generate revenue to cover operating costs.

“The marketplace has changed considerably and 80% of ticket sales at T.O.TIX now occur online,” says TAPA Board President, Andrea Vagianos, “A Ticket Shop is representative of another time. In the age of internet and now mobile ticketing, TAPA is responding to the evolution of audience purchasing behaviours."

“The T.O.TIX operations have placed economic stress on TAPA and we are responding to this persistent challenge by effectively pivoting our operations from

T.O.TIX to TOnight”, said TAPA’s Executive Director Jacoba Knaapen. “TAPA remains committed to building audiences, and TOnight connects contemporary audiences to theatre, dance and opera right at their finger-tips.”

Operated by TAPA, the T.O.TIX Booth located in the heart of downtown Toronto at Yonge-Dundas Square, sold advance, discount and half-price tickets to theatre, dance and opera in Toronto. The T.O.TIX Booth also provided exceptional customer service to tourists visiting Toronto and was an excellent source of tourism information. Operated by TAPA since 1993, the T.O.TIX Booth has sold over a million tickets and returned ticket revenue directly back to the TAPA members and producers. TAPA is proud to have provided the services of T.O.TIX that helped to make culture accessible and affordable to Torontonians and visitors for nearly 25 years.

Culture plays a vital role in attracting people, business and investment and in distinguishing Toronto as an exciting place to live, work and visit. TAPA encourages all Torontonians to participate and engage in the myriad of cultural events taking place on Toronto’s many stages. TOnight is the gateway to culture in Toronto and a convenient way for all Torontonians to access culture. The app can be easily downloaded on android and IOS (keyword search: Toronto TOnight).

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Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) is an arts service organization, with a membership of 201 professional theatre, dance and opera companies that reflect the diversity of Toronto. Programs and services provided by TAPA include: The Dora Mavor Moore Awards, SPACEFINDER TORONTO.ORG ; TOnight the arts app; Toronto's Official Theatre Guide; hipTIX, offering $5 tickets to students between the ages of 14 and 29; citySPECIAL; the Commercial Theatre Development Fund; and the Travel Retreat Initiatives Program - TRIP. For more information visit www.tapa.ca

For more information: Jacoba Knaapen, Executive Director - jacobak@tapa.ca