In this digital age, paper tickets for concerts, sports events, and other live entertainment may seem like a relic of the past. However, some people still prefer the tactile satisfaction of holding a paper ticket in hand over a digital ticket on their smartphone. The convenience of paper tickets also appeals to people who may not be tech-savvy or have an adequate smartphone. So is it still possible to get paper tickets from major ticket sellers like Ticketmaster? Let’s take a look.
The Shift to Digital Tickets
Over the last decade, there has been a major industry shift from paper tickets to digital tickets across live entertainment. In 2009, Ticketmaster launched its first paperless ticketing system to combat ticket fraud and scalping. By 2011, digital tickets accounted for 15% of Ticketmaster’s sales. Other major ticket sellers soon followed suit in transitioning to digital ticketing.
There are a few key reasons for this transition:
- Lower risk of counterfeit tickets – Paper tickets can be easily duplicated and resold by scalpers while digital tickets are unique to each buyer.
- More flexibility for buyers – Digital tickets let buyers easily transfer or resell tickets through authorized ticket exchanges.
- Lower distribution costs – Digital distribution eliminates printing and shipping costs involved with paper tickets.
By 2020, over 75% of Ticketmaster tickets sold were digital. Most major concert tours and sporting events now only offer digital ticketing as the default option. Paperless ticketing has become the norm for many live events.
Are Paper Tickets Completely Phased Out?
Despite the prevalence of digital ticketing, paper tickets are not completely obsolete just yet. Here are some instances where you may still be able to get paper tickets from Ticketmaster:
- Smaller venues and events – Smaller local venues and events that don’t require ticket transfers or have counterfeit ticket concerns may still use paper ticketing in some cases.
- Ticketmaster VerifyTM – Some events enable paper tickets through Ticketmaster’s VerifyTM system which adds unique barcodes and QR codes to prevent duplication.
- International events – In some countries outside the US, paper tickets remain more common depending on local ticketing norms.
- Accessibility requests – Venues may issue paper tickets to accommodate accessibility requests for people without smartphones.
- Exceptions by request – In limited cases, some events may provide paper tickets if a customer makes a special request.
So while paper ticketing options are now very limited, they haven’t been completely eliminated just yet. Certain types of smaller events or international venues where digital ticketing is less prevalent may still offer paper tickets as an option through Ticketmaster.
How to Get Paper Tickets on Ticketmaster
If an event does offer paper tickets as an option, here are some tips on how to get them through Ticketmaster:
- When searching for event tickets on Ticketmaster, look for a “Delivery Option” drop-down menu. If paper tickets are available, they will be listed there.
- Select “Standard Mail” as the delivery method to have paper tickets mailed to you.
- Double check that the ticket delivery address is correct before completing your order.
- Expect to pay an additional delivery fee for paper ticket mailing.
- Allow sufficient time for paper tickets to be delivered by mail depending on the event date.
- Contact Ticketmaster customer support if you don’t receive your paper tickets within 7-10 business days of ordering.
One downside of paper tickets is they cannot be easily transferred or resold through Ticketmaster’s verified resale platform. You would need to physically mail paper tickets to anyone you want to transfer them to.
The Limited Future of Paper Tickets
Paper tickets are likely to become even rarer over time as digital ticketing continues to prevail as the standard across the live events industry. While not completely obsolete yet, here are some signs paper tickets are fading fast:
- Since 2011, Ticketmaster has seen a 50% annual decline in paper ticket sales as more events shift to 100% digital ticketing.
- Major venues like Madison Square Garden in New York have gone completely cashless and paperless within the last few years.
- The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption with more touchless procedures like mobile entry and screening.
- Younger generations are highly accustomed to 100% digital tickets on their smartphones.
Certain larger shows, concerts, and sporting events that attract large crowds or secondary ticket sales will likely remain paperless-only for the foreseeable future. However, niche scenarios like smaller local venues, international events, and accessibility requests should keep limited paper ticket options alive through Ticketmaster for now. But overall, paper tickets will become a rare exception as digital transformation continues across the live events business.
Conclusion
While paper tickets were once the standard, major ticket sellers like Ticketmaster have rapidly shifted to digital ticketing in recent years. Paperless tickets now dominate major concerts, theater performances, and sporting events due to anti-fraud benefits, lower costs, and greater convenience. However, paper tickets are not completely extinct yet. Niche scenarios like smaller venues, international events, and accessibility requests may still offer paper ticketing options in some cases. But as digital innovation accelerates across the live entertainment industry, paper tickets seem destined to become a rare relic of the past except for very limited exceptions.