FC Cincinnati Partners with SeatGeek to Launch Revolutionary Fan Experience
March 21, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - FC Cincinnati News Release
CINCINNATI, OH (March 21, 2019) -- FC Cincinnati and SeatGeek today announced the club's new ticketing partnership in which SeatGeek is now the club's official resale marketplace during the 2019 season, before it becomes the club's official ticketing partner in 2020.
Further terms of the deal were not disclosed.
New York-based SeatGeek offers a world-class fan experience, and the club and company will work side by side to provide the best matchday in professional sports. They will partner to enhance the FCC fans' experience the next two seasons as the team moves into West End Stadium in 2021.
SeatGeek's mobile-focused ticket platform will give FC Cincinnati fans the ability to easily buy, sell, transfer and scan their tickets right from their smart devices. With its open approach to ticketing, SeatGeek believes that fans should be able to access tickets anywhere, helping more fans discover the passion and thrill of attending an FC Cincinnati match. When FC Cincinnati launches the team's official app in 2020, SeatGeek's ticketing technology will be fully integrated, making for a seamless experience.
FC Cincinnati has aimed to be a disruptor since the club's launch in 2015, and specifically in its relationship with fans. The club has sought fan and supporters input on a host of major milestone decisions, including kit colors and uniform design, the recent MLS rebranding and aspects of the game day experience.
This SeatGeek relationship continues that progressive relationship.
"As we began evaluating potential ticketing and fan-experience partners, it became clear very quickly that SeatGeek had something uniquely special to offer," FC Cincinnati President and General Manager Jeff Berding said. "They have significant MLS experience, have grown with the League, and more importantly, understand MLS and its fans. They take every opportunity to make the user experience easy, enjoyable and intuitive - and that's not just about ordering tickets. It touches every part of the game day experience, and, really, the entire fan experience.
"We're looking forward to fully introducing SeatGeek to our fans for the 2020 season as our primary ticket partner and then integrating a host of exciting technologies and experiences as we open West End Stadium in 2021. We truly believe we've found a partner who fundamentally aligns with our goals and ambitions and will help us continue to grow something special here at FC Cincinnati," Berding said.
FC Cincinnati joins five other MLS clubs that currently use SeatGeek, as well as a number of other major sports franchises, including the Dallas Cowboys and Manchester City FC. SeatGeek's fan-first and open approach to ticketing has taken the industry by storm, following partnerships with technology companies like Facebook, Snapchat and Lyft.
"Having experienced the first MLS match in Cincinnati, it's clear that this is not just one of the best fan bases in the MLS, but in all of sports," said SeatGeek's EVP of Client Partnerships Jeff Ianello. "It's also apparent from working with the various executives at the team, from Jeff Berding to Jeff Smith, that the club really values the fan experience."
SeatGeek will serve as FC Cincinnati's Official Ticket Exchange during the 2019 season, before taking over as the Official Ticketing Provider for the final season at Nippert Stadium in 2020. SeatGeek will then continue to serve as the Official Ticketing Provider in the new West End Stadium when it opens in 2021.
In 2019, fans will continue to access their FC Cincinnati tickets through the current ticketing system, but can now easily upload them to SeatGeek to send them to a friend or sell them on the fan-to-fan marketplace.
"It's amazing to see how much FC Cincinnati cares about its fans and is working with them to create the ultimate live event experience," said SeatGeek Co-Founder and former Cincinnati resident Russ D'Souza. "We're looking forward to working with the club to not just create the best ticketing experience, but to also make the entire FC Cincinnati matchday an incredible memory."
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