In the past, buying tickets to concerts, sports events, and shows meant getting an actual paper ticket that you would present at the venue to gain entry. However, over the last decade or so, Ticketmaster and other major ticket sellers have shifted away from issuing physical tickets. Instead, mobile tickets displayed on your smartphone have become the new normal. This transition has left many customers wondering why they can no longer get traditional hard tickets.
The Rise of Mobile Ticketing
There are a few key reasons why Ticketmaster and other ticket sellers have embraced mobile ticketing and moved away from physical tickets:
- Lower costs – Issuing digital tickets eliminates the costs of producing and shipping millions of paper tickets each year. This results in significant cost savings.
- Increased security – Mobile tickets are more secure than paper tickets and harder to counterfeit. Ticketmaster can invalidate digital tickets if they are duplicated.
- More flexibility – Customers can easily transfer mobile tickets to friends or sell them online. Physical tickets have to be shipped or handed off in person.
- Integration with smartphones – Mobile tickets are integrated with customers’ smartphone apps and features like Apple Wallet.
- Environmental impact – Digital ticketing reduces paper waste and carbon emissions from shipping.
For these reasons, mobile ticketing provides major benefits for both ticket sellers like Ticketmaster and consumers. The transition has been enabled by the widespread adoption of smartphones with high resolution displays and digital wallets that store tickets.
Are Physical Tickets Completely Gone?
While mobile ticketing is now the default for Ticketmaster and other major ticket sellers, physical tickets are not completely extinct – at least not yet. Here are some cases where you may still be able to get paper tickets:
- Select venues – Some concert halls, theaters, and other venues still issue printed tickets for events, even if you purchase through Ticketmaster.
- Collector’s items – For very high-profile events like the Super Bowl or music festivals, commemorative ticket stubs may be available as keepsakes.
- International events – Paper ticketing remains more common in some international markets where mobile adoption is lower.
- Third-party resellers – If you purchase tickets through a reseller site, you may receive printed tickets that were originally issued to someone else.
So while mobile ticketing now dominates, there are still limited circumstances where you can get physical ticket stubs. However, these are becoming increasingly rare exceptions to the rule.
Are Mobile Tickets Less Secure?
One common concern about mobile ticketing is that it seems less secure than having an actual paper ticket. However, mobile tickets provide some major security benefits:
- Encrypted barcodes – The barcode contains encrypted information that can only be scanned once and is invalid if duplicated.
- ID verification – Your digital ticket is tied to your smartphone and often requires ID or credit card for entry.
- Easier cancellation – If a ticket is lost or stolen, Ticketmaster can easily cancel it and issue a replacement.
Mobile tickets are very difficult to effectively counterfeit or duplicate. While paper tickets can be photocopied or faked, mobile tickets rely on dynamic digital information that cannot easily be copied or shared between devices. Overall, digital ticketing provides a much more secure experience compared to the risks of paper ticketing.
Are There Any Drawbacks to Mobile Tickets?
Despite their advantages, mobile tickets do come with a few potential drawbacks:
- Technology failures – If your phone runs out of battery or loses signal, you won’t be able to access your tickets.
- More steps – It takes extra time to open your digital wallet, scroll through tickets, and display your barcode.
- Data privacy – Ticketmaster and other companies can collect more customer data through digital ticketing.
To avoid issues with dead batteries or devices, be sure your phone is fully charged before an event and bring a printed backup of your tickets if possible. Also, allow enough time to access your digital tickets when entering a venue to account for any delays searching through your smartphone.
Tips for Using Mobile Tickets
Here are some top tips for smoothly using mobile ticketing:
- Download the organizer’s app – For Ticketmaster events, get the Ticketmaster app so you can store and manage tickets in one place.
- Save tickets to your digital wallet – On iPhones, add tickets to Apple Wallet for quick access.
- Take screenshots – Take screenshots of your tickets in case of technical issues.
- Arrive early – Give yourself extra time at the venue to pull up your digital tickets.
- Charge phone fully – Make sure your phone is 100% charged before heading to the event.
- Bring ID – Have your ID ready, as many venues now require it along with mobile tickets.
- Enable offline access – For Ticketmaster tickets, enable offline ticket access in the app settings so you can view tickets without signal.
- Check the transfer policy – Review the ticket transfer policy before forwarding digital tickets to friends.
Following these tips will help you avoid any hiccups with mobile tickets. Treat digital tickets like you would physical tickets and keep them protected on your phone.
The Future of Mobile Ticketing
It’s clear that mobile ticketing is here to stay and will only become more prevalent in the future. As more venues get on board, paper tickets will likely become obsolete except for rare collector’s items. Mobile tickets provide major benefits for consumers and businesses alike in terms of cost, security, and convenience. Apps will continue improving mobile ticketing capabilities through technologies like near field communication (NFC) tap-and-go entry.
Augmented reality could also revolutionize ticketing. Imagine being able to scan a ticket barcode that then unlocks an immersive AR experience related to the event. There are seemingly endless possibilities for elevating the digital ticketing experience beyond just a barcode on your phone.
The switch to 100% digital ticketing raises some privacy concerns, as companies will have access to more customer data. Regulations will likely be needed to ensure fair data practices. But overall, mobile ticketing adoption is a positive development that means Saying goodbye to paper tickets for good.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is mobile ticketing mandatory now?
Mobile ticketing is not mandatory across the board, but it is becoming the default for most major ticket sellers. Many events now only offer digital tickets as the primary option. However, you may still have limited ability to request paper tickets in certain cases.
What if my phone battery dies or I lose signal?
Make sure to charge your phone fully and arrive at the venue with plenty of time to pull up tickets. Also take screenshots of tickets or print a backup. Some apps allow saving tickets for offline access without mobile signal.
Are mobile tickets transferrable?
Transferability depends on the event policy. Some mobile tickets can be freely transferred or sold, while others may be strictly tied to the original purchaser’s account or smartphone.
Can mobile tickets be hacked or duplicated?
Duplicating a mobile ticket is very difficult since the barcode is encrypted with unique information that can only be scanned once. Hacking digital tickets is also unlikely, but you should still keep tickets protected on your phone like any other sensitive information.
What if I prefer having a paper ticket?
For most major events, you likely won’t have the option for physical tickets anymore. However, you may be able to request paper tickets in limited cases depending on the event policies. It’s generally best to embrace mobile ticketing since it’s only becoming more widely used.
Conclusion
The transition away from physical tickets to digital ticketing provides substantial benefits around cost, security, and convenience. While mobile ticketing comes with a few potential drawbacks, the pros heavily outweigh the cons for both consumers and businesses.
Mobile ticketing is rapidly becoming the mandatory default across live events. Though not completely extinct yet, paper ticketing’s days appear to be numbered except for rare collector’s items. As smartphone technology continues advancing, mobile tickets will likely take on enhanced features through innovations like augmented reality. But the core benefits of reduced costs, increased security, and easier transfers ensure mobile ticketing is here to stay.
