Access, or AXS, is a major ticket marketplace owned and operated by Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG). While it is a major competitor to Ticketmaster, AXS is not actually part of or owned by Ticketmaster. Instead, AXS should be considered an independent ticketing platform.
Quick Summary
In summary:
- AXS is owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), not Ticketmaster.
- AXS was launched in 2011 as a competitor to Ticketmaster.
- AXS sells tickets for events at AEG-owned venues as well as other partner venues.
- AXS offers mobile ticketing, fan experiences, and marketing partnerships as part of its services.
- Ticketmaster and AXS compete for ticketing contracts with major venues and artists.
So in conclusion, while AXS is a major player in the event ticketing industry, it is not a part of or owned by Ticketmaster. The two companies are competitors.
History of AXS
AXS was launched in 2011 by Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) as a competitor to the dominant Ticketmaster ticketing service. AEG is one of the largest owners of sports teams and entertainment venues in the world.
By launching its own ticketing platform, AEG was able to sell tickets for events at its venues without having to go through Ticketmaster. This allowed AEG to avoid Ticketmaster service fees and maintain full control over the ticketing sales and data.
In addition to selling tickets to AEG-owned venues, AXS was also able to sign deals with some non-AEG venues and promoters to serve as their official ticketing partner. As a result, AXS now sells tickets to a variety of major concert and sporting venues across the US and UK that are not owned by AEG.
AEG-Owned Venues Using AXS Ticketing
Here are some of the major venues owned by AEG that use AXS for ticketing:
| Venue | Location |
|---|---|
| Staples Center | Los Angeles, CA |
| O2 Arena | London, UK |
| Coachella Music Festival | Indio, CA |
| LA Galaxy | Carson, CA |
Non-AEG Venues Using AXS Ticketing
In addition to AEG properties, AXS also sells tickets for major non-AEG venues. Here are some examples:
| Venue | Location |
|---|---|
| Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Morrison, CO |
| L.A. Clippers | Los Angeles, CA |
| L.A. Lakers | Los Angeles, CA |
| Palladium | Hollywood, CA |
How AXS Competes with Ticketmaster
As a competitor to Ticketmaster, AXS employs some key strategies:
Focus on Fan Experience
AXS focuses heavily on fan engagement and experiences. This includes developing technology for mobile ticketing and integrated purchasing experiences. For example, fans can use AXS platforms to purchase tickets, parking, and merchandise in one seamless transaction.
Marketing Partnerships
AXS partners with brands to offer presales, exclusive experiences, and other promotions that add value for fans. The company leverages these partnerships as a way to sell more tickets and drive revenues.
Aggressive Venue Contracts
AEG leverages its position as a major venue owner to aggressively pursue ticketing contracts with its own venues as well as competing venues. The company is able to negotiate full ticketing rights for major artists and productions.
Data and Analytics
By owning the entire ticketing process, AXS is able to collect customer data and provide robust analytics and fan tracking capabilities. This is an area where AXS seeks to differentiate itself from Ticketmaster.
Current Status of the Ticketing Industry
Currently, Ticketmaster still dominates the primary ticketing market in the United States. According to a recent report by Development Counsellors International, Ticketmaster has around 70% market share of primary event ticketing. Other estimates have placed their share between 70-80%.
AXS holds around a 15% share of the US primary ticketing market. While still small compared to Ticketmaster, AXS has a strong foothold and continues to disrupt the industry.
Other players, like eTix, make up the remainder of the market. However, Ticketmaster and AXS are the two major national players competing for arena, stadium, and theater ticketing contracts.
Market Share Estimates of US Primary Ticketing Companies
| Company | Estimated Market Share |
|---|---|
| Ticketmaster | 70-80% |
| AXS | Approx 15% |
| eTix | Approx 5% |
| Other | 5-10% |
While Ticketmaster’s market share remains substantial, AXS has carved out an important niche – especially when it comes to ticketing for major music artists, festivals, and sporting events. As AEG continues to expand its venue holdings and entertainment properties, AXS will likely continue to grow its ticketing business as well.
Notable AXS Partnerships and Contracts
Here are some examples of major organizations, teams, and artists using AXS for ticketing and marketing services:
- Los Angeles Lakers & Clippers – AXS is the official ticketing partner for both LA-based NBA teams.
- Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys use AXS ticketing for both single game and season ticket sales.
- Houston Rockets – The Toyota Center, home of the Rockets, utilizes AXS ticketing.
- Pittsburgh Penguins – The NHL Penguins partner with AXS as their ticketing provider.
- St. Louis Blues – Another NHL team using AXS ticketing.
- Boston Calling Music Festival – One of many festivals and live music events that partner with AXS.
- Billie Eilish – Pop star who recently left Ticketmaster to partner with AXS.
- Post Malone – Hip hop star who uses AXS ticketing.
- Swedish House Mafia – EDM group that partners with AXS.
As you can see, AXS has made substantial inroads with major league sports teams, live music and festivals, and top artists. These partnerships demonstrate that AXS is a viable competitor taking business away from Ticketmaster.
Conclusion
In summary, AXS is a large ticketing marketplace that competes head-to-head with Ticketmaster. It is not owned by or affiliated with Ticketmaster in any way. AXS was created by entertainment giant AEG as a way to sell tickets to its own venues without relying on Ticketmaster. It has since expanded by signing deals with other venues and teams.
While Ticketmaster still dominates with an over 70% market share, AXS continues to disrupt the industry. With around 15% market share and key partnerships with major venues and artists, AXS has established itself as Ticketmaster’s chief competitor in primary event ticketing. As it continues expanding, AXS will likely keep taking market share and could potentially one day overtake Ticketmaster.
So in conclusion, AXS is absolutely not a part of Ticketmaster. It is an independent ticketing company competing directly against Ticketmaster for venue and artist partnerships.