Tickets Today and Ticketmaster are two of the biggest players in the ticket sales industry. With both companies selling tickets to concerts, sports events, theater shows and more, it’s natural for consumers to wonder if the two companies are connected.
The Short Answer
No, Tickets Today and Ticketmaster are not affiliated. They are completely separate companies that compete against each other in the primary and secondary ticket sales market.
Ticketing Industry Overview
Before diving into the details on Tickets Today and Ticketmaster, it helps to understand the overall ticketing industry. There are a few key players involved:
- Primary ticket sellers – These are the initial ticket sellers when events first go on sale, like Ticketmaster. They partner directly with venues and event promoters to sell the initial ticket inventory.
- Secondary ticket sellers – These sellers come into play after the primary sales, allowing people to resell tickets. StubHub and Vivid Seats are two of the largest secondary sellers.
- Ticket brokers – Brokers buy up significant ticket inventory during primary sales with the intent to resell at a higher price. They sell using secondary marketplaces.
- Ticket aggregators – Aggregators like TicketsToday don’t sell their own ticket inventory. Instead, they partner with multiple primary and secondary sellers to list available tickets in one spot.
With this overview in mind, let’s take a closer look at how Tickets Today and Ticketmaster fit into the ticketing landscape.
Ticketmaster Background
Ticketmaster is the largest primary ticket seller in the world. They sell tickets for concerts, sports leagues, theaters and more. Some key facts about Ticketmaster include:
- Founded in 1976 in Arizona
- Merged with Live Nation in 2010 to become Live Nation Entertainment, the largest live events company in the world
- Sells over 485 million tickets per year through partnerships with over 10,000 venues and promoters
- Owns or operates 67 major venues like House of Blues concert halls
- Official ticketing partner for major leagues like NFL, NBA, NHL, UFC, WWE
In summary, Ticketmaster dominates primary ticket sales thanks to their exclusive partnerships and scale. They sell the initial ticket inventory for most major live events in the US and abroad.
TicketsToday Background
TicketsToday takes a different approach from Ticketmaster. Instead of selling tickets directly, they partner with multiple ticket sellers to list available inventory. Key facts about TicketsToday:
- Founded in 2002 in Austin, Texas
- Serves as a ticket aggregator, partnering with primary and secondary sellers
- Doesn’t own ticket inventory – they display and link out to tickets from partners
- Partners include secondary sellers like Vivid Seats, StubHub, SeatGeek
- Also partners with some primary sellers like AXS to showcase primary inventory
In summary, TicketsToday operates a ticket search engine that pulls inventory from various partners. Customers can compare ticket prices in one spot instead of visiting multiple sites.
The Companies are Not Affiliated
Now that we’ve provided background on each company, it’s clear that Tickets Today and Ticketmaster operate very differently within the ticketing industry:
- Ticketmaster is a primary seller – TicketsToday is a secondary aggregator
- Ticketmaster owns ticket inventory – TicketsToday links out to third party inventory
- Ticketmaster has direct venue/promoter partnerships – TicketsToday partners with secondary sellers
In essence, the two companies are competitors. Ticketmaster wants consumers to buy directly from their site. TicketsToday promotes sales across multiple secondary sellers.
Lack of Co-Branding or Joint Ventures
There is no co-branding or noticeable affiliation between Ticketmaster and TicketsToday. For example:
- No mention of each other on their websites
- No co-branded products or services
- No joint press releases or partnership announcements
This lack of public collaboration supports the fact that the companies operate independently.
Direct Competition
Ticketmaster and TicketsToday are positioned as competitors trying to attract event shoppers:
- Ticketmaster advertises themselves as the place for the best primary ticket deals
- TicketsToday promotes comparison shopping across secondary sellers
This head-to-head competition indicates they are not affiliated partners.
Do the Companies Ever Work Together?
While Ticketmaster and TicketsToday are not affiliated companies, its possible they establish agreements in certain cases that benefit both parties. Some potential scenarios where they could work together indirectly:
TicketsToday Links to Ticketmaster Inventory
As an aggregator, TicketsToday wants to display as much available inventory as possible. So they may partner with Ticketmaster to show primary ticket listings from their inventory. This allows TicketsToday customers to price compare Ticketmaster against other sellers.
Re-selling Ticketmaster Tickets
When Ticketmaster customers can’t attend an event, they often re-sell their tickets on secondary sites. TicketsToday may display and link out to these re-sale Ticketmaster tickets. This provides TicketsToday buyers access to more ticket supply.
Promoting Each Other’s Services
Ticketmaster and TicketsToday may informally promote each other’s services. For example, a Ticketmaster customer unable to get their desired tickets may be directed to try TicketsToday for re-sale options.
However, any cooperation would be limited and likely on an informal basis only. There is no evidence the two companies have an official partnership or affiliation.
Do TicketsToday and Ticketmaster Have the Same Owner?
Some consumers may wonder if TicketsToday and Ticketmaster share the same parent company or owner. However, there is no corporate connection between the two entities:
- Ticketmaster is owned by Live Nation Entertainment
- TicketsToday is owned by Austin-based ABC Tickets
The two parent companies operate independently in the ticketing industry.
Will TicketsToday and Ticketmaster Merge?
Given the lack of affiliation currently, it’s highly unlikely TicketsToday and Ticketmaster would merge into one entity. Ticketmaster’s owner Live Nation has no need to acquire a secondary ticket aggregator like TicketsToday. And TicketsToday benefits from remaining a Switzerland-like aggregator instead of being tied to the largest primary seller. Any merger would result in significant scrutiny from regulators as well.
That said, the ticketing industry is rapidly evolving. And major consolidation moves have happened before, like when Ticketmaster merged with Live Nation in 2010. So while a TicketsToday and Ticketmaster merger seems unlikely today, things could potentially change in the future depending on how the competitive landscape evolves.
Key Takeaways
To summarize the key points in this article:
- TicketsToday and Ticketmaster are completely separate companies that compete in the ticketing industry
- Ticketmaster is a primary seller; TicketsToday is a secondary ticket aggregator
- There is no evidence the two companies are officially affiliated or partnered
- While they may work together indirectly in some cases, they operate independently
- A merger between the two companies is highly unlikely given current industry dynamics
So in conclusion – no, TicketsToday is not currently affiliated or partnered with Ticketmaster in any official capacity despite being major players in the ticketing marketplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does TicketsToday sell Ticketmaster tickets?
TicketsToday does not directly sell Ticketmaster ticket inventory. As an aggregator, they may display and link out to Ticketmaster primary and resale tickets, but the transactions occur directly on Ticketmaster’s platform.
Can you use a Ticketmaster promo code on TicketsToday?
No, Ticketmaster promo codes can only be redeemed directly on Ticketmaster.com. TicketsToday has partnerships with different ticket sellers and does not accept Ticketmaster promo codes.
Are Ticketmaster platinum seats on TicketsToday?
Ticketmaster’s platinum seats for high-demand events may get listed on TicketsToday if the tickets are resold through Ticketmaster’s verified resale program. But TicketsToday does not have direct access to Ticketmaster’s platinum seat inventory.
Does TicketsToday have cheaper fees than Ticketmaster?
It depends. TicketsToday itself does not charge fees since they are just an aggregator linking out to third party sellers. Each seller on TicketsToday sets their own fees. Some may be lower than Ticketmaster’s fees, while others could be higher, depending on the event.
What is TicketsToday’s relationship with Live Nation?
TicketsToday has no direct relationship with Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster. Live Nation does not own or operate TicketsToday in any capacity. The two companies simply compete in the ticketing marketplace.
Comparison of Fees
One of the main value propositions of TicketsToday is that it allows you to compare fees charged across multiple ticket sellers. Here is an example fee comparison for a sample concert ticket:
| Seller | Ticket Price | Fees | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ticketmaster | $100 | $25 | $125 |
| VividSeats | $100 | $15 | $115 |
| StubHub | $100 | $20 | $120 |
| SeatGeek | $100 | $18 | $118 |
As you can see, the final price for the same $100 ticket ranges from $115 to $125 depending on the seller. TicketsToday lets you easily compare options to find the best deal.
Conclusion
TicketsToday and Ticketmaster operate independently in the ticketing industry. While you may find Ticketmaster tickets listed on TicketsToday, the companies are not officially affiliated or partnered. TicketsToday is a ticket aggregator while Ticketmaster is primarily a ticket seller. When purchasing tickets, TicketsToday allows you to compare prices across multiple platforms and potentially find better deals.
