As time goes on, more and more music venues, like Madison Square Garden, are creating their own apps so they can sell tickets directly through their platform. This is an interesting trend because, with established companies like Ticketmaster dominating the market, there doesn’t at first glance seem to be a need.
After all, Ticketmaster offers numerous features, like fan-to-fan resale and even ticket exchanges, that venue-specific apps don’t. With that said, the benefits of venues creating their own apps go far beyond ticket sales. They can help to provide a better experience to fans, which is really the main focus behind their creation.
The Rise of Branded Apps within Entertainment
The creation of branded apps has been happening in the entertainment industry for quite some time. Cineworld, AMC Theatres, and Regal all have their own apps that allow people to check showtimes, reserve seats, and in some instances, track their loyalty points.
The Lincoln Center App also allows people to browse upcoming events at the venue, with the option to book tickets or experiences in just a few clicks. This trend is happening within the iGaming sector too, with companies like GGPoker, PokerStars, and 888 Poker all having their own online poker real money apps. This allows them to offer distinct promotions and features so that they can set themselves apart from the competition while setting limits for minimum deposits.
By creating their own apps, they can also customize the experience with their own branding, while being able to collect customer data more efficiently. When you look at the bigger picture, it’s very clear that this trend has been slowly becoming more ubiquitous, and for music venues, it’s proving to be a bit of a game changer.
Why Are Music Venues Creating Their Own Apps?
Music venues offering the chance to buy tickets through their own app eliminates the middle man, which in the instance of Ticketmaster, is a good way for venues to make more profit. On top of that, when people buy directly through the app, venues can collect and analyze customer data much more efficiently.
This can include purchase history and even preferences. This allows for more targeted promotions and an enhanced relationship with fans. It’s not all about ticket sales though. Venues are now creating apps so that they can directly suit the needs of their audience.
From uploading venue maps to exclusive offers and even tailored recommendations, customization like this makes it easier for people to have a good time. As ticket purchasing through a mobile app requires the venue to adopt a payment platform, this also opens the door to new and exciting opportunities. Some venues are allowing fans to reserve merchandise on their phone, with the option to pay for drinks via the app and collect them at the bar. Venues can also use their apps to offer exclusive presales, allowing fans to directly connect with the venue through deals and discounts.
With mobile tickets alone being far more convenient than paper tickets, it really makes sense for venues to invest in their fan experience. Even if giants like Ticketmaster and StubHub have more features, it still pays for venues to give fans the chance to buy tickets directly.
