Ticketmaster is a major ticketing company that sells tickets for various live entertainment events around the world. The company was founded in 1976 and has grown to become one of the largest primary ticket outlets in many countries. But just how global is Ticketmaster’s reach? Let’s take a look at how many countries Ticketmaster currently operates in.
North America
Ticketmaster first started operating in the United States and Canada. The company is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California and quickly became a major player in ticketing events across the United States after its founding. Today, Ticketmaster continues to be the dominant primary ticketing company in the US and Canada. It has ticket resale partnerships with many major venues and promoters across North America. So it is safe to say that Ticketmaster operates fully in the United States and Canada.
United States
The United States is Ticketmaster’s home country and largest market. According to Ticketmaster’s website, they sell over 500 million tickets per year just in the US. As the market leader, Ticketmaster sells tickets for concerts, sports games, theater shows, festivals and more throughout the United States. Any major live entertainment event you can think of likely sells tickets through Ticketmaster. Their website boasts that they are the global market leader in live event ticketing with over 30,000 clients worldwide. So it’s no surprise that their presence is huge in the American ticketing market.
Canada
Ticketmaster also has a major presence throughout Canada. They provide ticketing services for top venues, theaters, stadiums and promoters across Canada’s major metropolitan areas. You can find Ticketmaster selling tickets to events in all 10 Canadian provinces. Originally co-owned with Cineplex Entertainment, Ticketmaster Canada became a wholly owned subsidiary of Ticketmaster in 2008. With a strong branding and track record in Canada, Ticketmaster continues to be the dominant player in the Canadian ticketing market as well.
Mexico
Ticketmaster expanded into Mexico in the 1990s, establishing Ticketmaster Mexico as a subsidiary. Today, Ticketmaster Mexico has exclusive partnerships with many major venues and promoters all across Mexico. You can find Ticketmaster selling tickets for concerts, sports games, theater shows and other live events throughout Mexico. According to Ticketmaster Mexico’s website, they sell tickets for events in over 500 cities and towns in Mexico. So it is clear that Ticketmaster has a sizable presence across Mexico.
Europe
In addition to North America, Ticketmaster operates widely across Europe. Let’s take a look at some of the major European countries where Ticketmaster has a presence.
United Kingdom
Ticketmaster entered the UK market in 2002 through the purchase of Way Ahead Group, which owned the British ticketing firm Way Ahead. After rebranding as Ticketmaster UK, they became a leading ticketing company in the UK. Today, Ticketmaster sells tickets across the UK for concerts, theatrical performances, sporting events and more. According to their website, Ticketmaster UK moves over 55 million tickets per year. They have exclusive ticketing deals with major venues like The O2 Arena and Wembley Stadium in London. It’s clear that Ticketmaster has a major hold on the British ticketing market.
Ireland
As another commonwealth country near the UK, Ireland is another market where Ticketmaster operates. Ticketmaster Ireland was established in 2002 as well through the purchase of Way Ahead Group. Today, Ticketmaster Ireland sells tickets to top live entertainment attractions throughout Ireland, including concerts, sporting events, festivals and performances. Venues that use Ticketmaster for ticket sales in Ireland include 3Arena and Aviva Stadium. Ticketmaster is undoubtedly one of the top ticketing companies operating in the Irish market as well.
Spain
Ticketmaster is very active in the Spanish live events market as well. Ticketmaster Spain was created in 1996 as a joint venture between Ticketmaster and a Spanish company called ServiCaixa. It took over the previous ticketing company, Bilis. Today Ticketmaster Spain sells tickets for major music festivals, concerts, sports matches and other live events throughout Spain. According to Ticketmaster Spain’s website, they sell over 7 million tickets annually. Prominent venues using Ticketmaster for ticket sales include Stadium La Cartuja de Sevilla.
Germany
Germany is yet another major European country where Ticketmaster maintains extensive operations. Ticketmaster Germany commenced operations in 2002. Today, Ticketmaster Germany sells tickets for live entertainment attractions all across Germany, including concerts, theater performances, sports games and more. Top venues using Ticketmaster as their official ticketing service include Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin. Ticketmaster Germany claims to sell close to 15 million tickets annually for over 10,000 events. It is certainly one of the leading ticketing companies active in the German market.
Other European Countries
In addition to the countries detailed above, Ticketmaster also has operations in many other European nations. This includes France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Turkey, Poland and more. The company has steadily expanded across Europe, frequently acquiring existing ticketing companies in each new market. Today, Ticketmaster sells tickets across dozens of European countries for all types of live entertainment events each year.
Asia Pacific
Across the Asia Pacific region, Ticketmaster has operations serving multiple countries. Here are some key details on Ticketmaster’s presence in the Asia Pacific ticketing industry.
Australia
Ticketmaster is active in Australia’s live entertainment ticketing market through Ticketmaster Australasia, also referred to as Ticketer. Ticketmaster Australasia was formed through the acquisition of Ticketer and its parent company Optus. Today, Ticketmaster is one of the leading ticketing companies in Australia. They sell tickets across Australia for concerts, theater, sports and other live entertainment. Major venues using Ticketmaster include the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Cricket Ground.
New Zealand
Similarly, Ticketmaster entered the New Zealand market by acquiring the established ticketing firm Ticketek. Ticketmaster New Zealand today sells tickets to top attractions and events across the country. In addition to concerts and sports, Ticketmaster also sells tickets in New Zealand to cultural and family events. Prominent clients include Vector Arena and Eden Park. Ticketmaster has a strong hold on New Zealand’s live event ticketing industry.
China
Ticketmaster does have operations in mainland China as well. In 2007, Ticketmaster established Ticketmaster China through a joint venture with Chinese internet company Tom Group. Ticketmaster China is headquartered in Beijing and sells tickets online for events across mainland China. Their ticketing services cover concerts, theatrical shows, sporting events and more. However, they do face extensive competition from other ticketing companies in China.
Singapore
In Singapore, Ticketmaster operates through a joint venture with Singapore Press Holdings. Named SISTIC, this ticketing company sells tickets online and at physical box offices across Singapore. SISTIC sells tickets for concerts, sports games, musicals, family shows and various cultural events in Singapore. So while the Ticketmaster brand isn’t used directly, the company does have an operation serving Singapore’s ticketing market.
Other Asia Pacific Countries
Ticketmaster also lists the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and India as countries covered in the Asia Pacific region. However, the company may not have full-scale operations in all these nations. In some cases, they partner with existing local ticketing companies to expand their global reach. But Ticketmaster still claims to sell tickets for live entertainment events in multiple Asia Pacific countries beyond just Australia, New Zealand and China.
Middle East
In the Middle East, Ticketmaster has a presence in the United Arab Emirates. Ticketmaster UAE operates out of Dubai and sells tickets for events across the 7 emirates. Concerts, theater shows, comedy shows, family events and more all use Ticketmaster for ticketing. Their website also lists Qatar and Bahrain as markets covered by Ticketmaster UAE. Expanding deeper into the Middle East is still likely an area of growth and development for Ticketmaster’s global strategy.
South America
Ticketmaster has some ticketing operations across South America as well. This includes Ticketmaster Argentina, which sells tickets for events in cities across Argentina including Buenos Aires. Ticketmaster Brazil is another subsidiary covering the major Brazilian market. In addition, the Ticketmaster Mexico website indicates they serve some regions of South America beyond just Mexico. But South America still seems to be a relatively newer area of expansion for Ticketmaster compared to other continents.
Africa
Information on Ticketmaster’s presence across Africa is more limited. Based on their international website, Ticketmaster does not seem to have extensive operations established yet across Africa. The country lists seem to focus heavily on Europe, North America, Australia/New Zealand and some coverage in Asia and the Middle East. However, Africa’s live entertainment markets are likely still a future area of growth for Ticketmaster as they continue expanding globally.
Conclusion
In summary, Ticketmaster currently operates in at least 27 countries across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and South America. Their largest presence continues to be concentrated across the United States, Canada and the UK. But their international footprint is substantial. Here is a table summarizing some of Ticketmaster’s major country operations:
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| North America | United States, Canada, Mexico |
| Europe | United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Turkey, Poland |
| Asia Pacific | Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore |
| Middle East | United Arab Emirates (Dubai) |
| South America | Argentina, Brazil |
While not an exhaustive list, this table shows the major markets and multiple continents where Ticketmaster has established substantial operations. In total, Ticketmaster claims to serve clients in 29 countries across 6 continents. From small music venues to massive stadiums and arenas, Ticketmaster provides ticketing services at over 30,000 live entertainment sites worldwide. The company continues to focus on expanding their global footprint, particularly in high-growth markets across Asia, South America and the Middle East. With a dominant presence already across North America and Europe, Ticketmaster has grown from its modest beginnings into one of the pre-eminent worldwide leaders in live entertainment ticketing.