MLS and SeatGeek to jointly develop a new primary ticketing system

New York, NY (July 27, 2016) — SeatGeek and Major League Soccer announced today a groundbreaking multi-year partnership agreement focused on the development of a new, radically open ticketing ecosystem. Under the partnership, SeatGeek will collaborate with the league and its clubs to introduce an integrated ticketing platform that will be made available to all clubs. SeatGeek will also become the Official Ticketing Partner of Major League Soccer.

“We couldn’t have chosen a better partner for our first sports partnership than Major League Soccer. Given its rapid growth and deeply engaged fanbase, MLS is the ideal partner to drive forward our brand new, open ticketing experience,” said SeatGeek co-founder Jack Groetzinger. “We’re thrilled to work hand in hand over the coming years with MLS to bring fan-friendly, mobile-first ticketing to market and help allow millions more soccer fans to experience MLS.”

SeatGeek’s new ticketing offering seeks to empower both fans and teams alike with a structure that enables a level of openness not previously seen in live entertainment. SeatGeek’s ticketing platform will allow for a club’s primary tickets to be sold, fulfilled and delivered on any site or mobile application of a team’s choosing -- opening up the possibility for MLS fans to buy tickets on dozens of e-commerce apps and ticketing sites.

The new SeatGeek ticketing platform will also make the software that powers ticket verification widely available to third parties, meaning that MLS fans will be enabled to securely sell or transfer tickets on any resale platform of their choice and take full advantage of features that help prevent fraud, which have historically been held back for the benefit of one ticketing partner.

“Our number one objective when we set out to find a ticketing partner was to align with a group that would build an incredible fan experience,” said Kathy Carter, President of Soccer United Marketing, MLS’ commercial arm. “We selected SeatGeek because we believe that together we are going to build the best ticketing experience in the sports industry.”

SeatGeek’s platform will be built and optimized for mobile commerce. Currently, a full two-thirds of SeatGeek’s transactions occur on mobile devices, and SeatGeek’s apps incorporate best in class technology to make it easy for consumers to buy tickets in just a few taps. This, combined with the open distribution platform to other apps and services, will help make it simple for MLS fans to buy tickets from their phone, have those tickets delivered to their phone and then use that mobile ticket to scan into the venue.

In the coming year, SeatGeek will work with MLS, its technology partner TopTix and member clubs to roll out this new ticketing system. SeatGeek and MLS will also begin to roll out aspects of the SeatGeek ticketing platform across league sites and properties immediately.

This partnership marks SeatGeek’s first major sports partnership, and the company joins a roster of industry leading MLS partners. SeatGeek will also have a substantial presence at marquee league events, including the AT&T MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup.

About SeatGeek

SeatGeek (http://www.seatgeek.com) is the leading mobile-focused ticket platform that enables fans to buy and sell tickets for sports, concert, and theater events. With industry-leading mobile ticketing apps, a fan-friendly user experience and its proprietary Deal Score™ technology that helps fans identify the best ticket values on offer for a given event, SeatGeek is transforming the way that fans buy and sell tickets to their favorite events. SeatGeek is also the Official Ticketing Partner of Major League Soccer, working closely with the league to develop and introduce a new integrated ticketing platform for member clubs.

About Major League Soccer

Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer features 20 clubs throughout the United States and Canada. The 2016 season marks the second year of the most comprehensive U.S. media rights partnership in the history of the league, as eight-year agreements with ESPN, FOX Sports and Univision Deportes.