DETROIT, MI – The Detroit Lions announced Monday that it has struck a multi-year agreement with Veritix, in which the Cleveland-based company will be the team’s exclusive provider for primary ticket sales, making it the first NFL team to do so.
The move is meant to give the Lions more control over ticket sales, while offering more digital options to fans down the road, according to Lions spokesman Ben Manges.
Manges said there will be no increased cost to fans. He said he could not comment on the cost difference to the Lions organization by switching from Ticketmaster as a primary ticketing operation to Veritix.
Previously, Ticketmaster, which has exclusive control of the NFL’s secondary market for ticket sales, was also providing primary sales for the Lions, as it has been doing for many teams. This meant that fans looking to buy a ticket over the phone or on detroitlions.com were redirected to Ticketmaster, whereas now they will be buying directly from the Lions, Manges said, adding that Veritix acts as more of a “back-of-house” service provider.
Eventually, the Lions will also implement the company’s Flash Seats system, which allows fans to use their smart phones as a paperless ticket. The patented system was used at the 2013 NCAA Men’s Final Four basketball tournament. The system also allows fans to digitally transfer their tickets to other people, if they themselves are unable to attend an event, for example.
“We remain committed to implementing innovative technologies throughout our organization with a goal of engaging fans in a consistent and meaningful way,” Tom Lewand, President of the Detroit Lions, said in a statement. “The Veritix platform will provide our season ticket holders, fans and partners with the best ticketing features, benefits and experience possible when entering Ford Field.”
Veritix already works with major sports venues such as Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, the Toyota Center in Houston, Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, the Pepsi Center in Denver. In addition to the Lions, the company works with National Basketball Association teams including the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche.
“The Detroit Lions are innovators in the NFL, and their selection of Veritix proves they are focused on providing the best possible ticketing and event experience to their guests,” Guy Villa, Vice President of Sales at Veritix, said in a statement. “We look forward to providing the best ticketing, event marketing and relationship management technologies available and partnering with the Lions for many years to come.”
