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Seatwave sets up physical shop at the O2
By CMU Editorial | Published on Monday 13 February 2012
This could step up the whole secondary ticketing thing, couldn’t it? Ticket resale site Seatwave has set up a shop next to London’s The O2 Arena in North Greenwich, where it will resell tickets for sell-out shows taking place at the AEG-operated venue, as well as providing a physical pick up point for people who buy tickets via the Seatwave platform online.
Confirming the new retail unit, Seatwave CEO Joe Cohen told reporters: “Seatwave @ North Greenwich marks a milestone in what we can offer Seatwave customers. Our retail location gives thousands of fans a convenient way to pick up, buy and sell tickets, ensuring they don’t miss out on seeing once-in-a-lifetime events at The O2”.
Of course the boom in ticketing touting in the internet age has been controversial in the live sector, with some promoters and artist managers hitting out at secondary ticketing websites like Seatwave for encouraging the trading in tickets for in-demand events, arguing it makes it harder for real fans to access tickets from primary sellers, forcing them to pay a mark up to a reseller.
With that in mind, promoter and venue operator AEG Live distanced itself from the Seatwave shop next to its flagship UK venue on Friday, seemingly concerned some might think the new retail unit alongside its Millennium Dome site might suggest some sort of endorsement of the ticket resale company.
A spokesman told Music Week: “Following a press release issued today by secondary ticketing agents Seatwave, we would like to clarify that The O2 is in no way connected to Seatwave and in no way supports or endorses the secondary ticketing market. The only way for music fans and concert goers to safely purchase tickets for events at The O2 is via The O2’s onsite box office, the official website theO2.co.uk, or via one of The O2’s official ticketing partners. The purchase of tickets through secondary ticketing agents brings with it inherent risk and we strongly advise our customers against using unregulated and unofficial outlets”.
