Ticketmaster is the leading ticket sales and distribution company in the United States, but they do not have the same market dominance in other countries. In Germany, there are several major ticketing companies that serve as alternatives to Ticketmaster.
CTS Eventim
CTS Eventim is the largest ticket distributor in Germany and one of the largest in Europe. They sell tickets for concerts, plays, sports events and more through their website eventim.de as well as through box offices around Germany. Some of the key facts about CTS Eventim include:
- Headquartered in Bremen, Germany
- Operations in 21 countries across Europe
- Sold over 250 million tickets in 2019
- Owns ticket sales platforms such as eventim.de, oeticket.com, and ticketcorner.ch
- Has deals with major event venues, promoters, and artists to sell their tickets
So in many ways, CTS Eventim plays the same role in Germany and other European markets that Ticketmaster does in North America. They are a dominant ticketing company with exclusive deals to distribute tickets for top events. Many Germans will think of CTS Eventim first when purchasing concert or event tickets, much like Americans often go to Ticketmaster.
ADTicket
ADTicket is another major ticketing company in Germany. They are the exclusive seller for tickets for events taking place at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg, and other major venues. Some key information on ADTicket:
- Part of CTS Eventim since 2019
- Official ticketing partner for over 70 major event venues
- Processes over 17 million ticket orders per year
- Sells tickets online at adticket.de or over the phone
- Also provides complete ticket sales solutions for venues and event promoters
Between their own ticket platform and exclusive deals with major venues, ADTicket sells millions of tickets each year for events across Germany. They focus primarily on sporting events, concerts, and other live entertainment.
Ticket Online
Ticket Online is a ticket sales company owned by entertainment giant DEAG Deutsche Entertainment. Some key facts about Ticket Online:
- Official ticket partner for events at Tempodrom in Berlin
- Exclusive ticket distributor for shows at Admiralspalast and Tempodrom venues in Berlin
- Also sells tickets for events at locations like the Max-Schmeling-Halle and Verti Music Hall in Berlin
- Partners with promoters, bands, and managers to sell tickets for tours and festivals
- Customers can purchase tickets online at ticket-online.com or by phone
While not as dominant as CTS Eventim, Ticket Online has a strong presence in the German ticketing market thanks to its base in Berlin and partnerships with major promoters and venues.
Other German Ticketing Companies
While CTS Eventim, ADTicket, and Ticket Online are three of the largest primary ticket sellers in Germany, there are also some other competitors in the market:
- Eventim.Light: Sister brand to Eventim that focuses on small-scale online ticket sales for venues with capacity under 5000.
- Reservix: Sells tickets online for concerts, theater, comedy shows, and other live events across Germany. Based in Hamburg.
- Ticketmaster.de: German website for Ticketmaster that sells tickets primarily for major international sporting events and concerts by global superstars.
- See Tickets Germany: German division of See Tickets, which sells tickets for events in Germany online and over the phone.
- TicketPay: Online ticketing service where fans can self-print tickets bought online. Focuses on smaller music clubs, theaters, and comedy shows.
There are also many smaller regional ticketing companies throughout Germany that handle sales for local venues and promoters. The German ticketing market remains fragmented with many players competing for business.
Secondary Ticket Marketplaces
In addition to primary ticket sellers, there are several secondary ticket marketplaces where resellers can sell extra tickets for events in Germany. These include:
- Viagogo: Global ticket marketplace where fans can buy and sell spare or unwanted tickets.
- StubHub: US-based secondary ticket marketplace that also facilitates ticket resales in Germany.
- ticketbande: Local German ticket exchange connecting buyers and sellers directly.
- fansale.de: Secondary ticket marketplace operated by Eventim.
- seatwave: Secondary tickets for sports, concerts, theater and more. Owned by Ticketmaster.
These secondary sites provide an alternative to try and find tickets for sold-out events, often at inflated prices. They are controversial among fans, artists and promoters.
Main Differences From Ticketmaster
There are a few key differences between the German ticketing market and Ticketmaster’s dominant position in North America:
- No single dominant company like Ticketmaster with 80%+ market share
- Many competitive ticket sellers vying for exclusive deals with venues/promoters
- CTS Eventim leads with around 25-30% market share
- Many regional companies active in specific cities or areas of Germany
- More venues sell direct to fans from their own box offices
- Ticketmaster has limited presence selling just for biggest global tours/events
While CTS Eventim is the German market leader, they face much more competition compared to Ticketmaster. No single player has established the same level of exclusivity over the German live entertainment industry that Ticketmaster enjoys in the US.
Buying Concert/Event Tickets in Germany
For the average consumer in Germany looking to buy tickets for an event, here are some tips:
- Check event venue’s website first – Many have their own ticketing platforms or box office.
- Try CTS Eventim’s eventim.de – Largest ticket seller, extensive inventory.
- Search ADTicket & TicketOnline – Major ticket companies in certain cities.
- Visit ticket retailers like Reservix, TicketPay etc.
- Consider secondary sites if sold out – But beware of very inflated prices!
In general it is wise to explore multiple options when buying tickets in Germany, as exclusivity deals are not as prevalent as with Ticketmaster in North America. With more competition, you may find better ticket availability and prices.
Conclusion
While no single company has replicated Ticketmaster’s dominance, CTS Eventim is the closest equivalent ticketing giant in Germany. However, the German ticketing ecosystem remains much more fractured amongst several major national players like Eventim, ADTicket and TicketOnline, as well as numerous smaller regional companies. German consumers have more choice when it comes to buying tickets, though the convenience of a single platform like Ticketmaster is lacking. The competitive market has prevented any single player achieving the same scale and exclusivity over ticketing operations in Germany.