The ability to get tickets to concerts, sports and theater events around the country or in local communities just got an exciting boost, thanks to a groundbreaking partnership between TicketSmarter and Gannett Co., Inc.
The two companies have teamed up to provide USA TODAY NETWORK’s news and content audiences with unique and secure access to tickets. And beginning this month, TicketSmarter’s branding and offerings will be integrated across USATODAY.com, 250 local media sites, and more than 70 vertical sports sites—a reach of more than 145 million visitors each month.
Complementing that impressive reach are the offerings from the Kansas-based ticket resale marketplace, with detailed seating charts and ticket availability for more than 125,000 live events and 48 million tickets for sale that are searchable on the company’s website.
As a major perk to the unprecedented agreement for both Gannett and TicketSmarter, readers will be able to access information about sports, entertainment and lifestyle events that link to relevant performer profiles on TicketSmarter’s site. Because of the USA TODAY NETWORK reach in local communities throughout the U.S.—such as Austin, Detroit, Indianapolis, Knoxville, and Phoenix—visitors will be able to seamlessly purchase tickets to events happening within their local areas, all of which are covered by TicketSmarter’s 100% ticket guarantee, directly on article pages and drop-down menus across the Sports and Entertainment sites.
And looking ahead to 2022, developments have already begun with additional integrations and “Buy Now” widgets within content experiences.
“We believe that the future of ticketing is fast, easy and fan-centric,” TicketSmarter CEO Jeff Goodman said. “By partnering with Gannett, we will be able to give consumers unmatched access to our secondary resale marketplace so they can experience the power and excitement of live events.”
“Across the USA TODAY NETWORK’s hundreds of properties, we engage daily with audiences that are passionate about music, sports, theater and live events. The TicketSmarter partnership will provide us with the ability to better serve our audiences with opportunities to buy tickets to their favorite events,” said Chris Pirrone, General Manager of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group. “We also value TicketSmarter’s commitment to giving back to local communities by pledging to donate one dollar of every transaction to charitable partners.”
The collaboration’s philanthropic drive, one of TicketSmarter’s biggest priorities since the company began in 2010 (as GoodyTickets), adds an extraordinary element. Founders Heather and Jeff Goodman have kept up their charitable-conscious mission into the new decade, donating one dollar of every transaction to organizations like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, V Foundation, and Quarterbacking Children’s Health Foundation. And the continuation of such charitable causes within the community through the partnership with Gannett truly cements this overall opportunity as a special offering.
About TicketSmarter
TicketSmarter helps customers from all walks of life experience the power and excitement of live events by giving back through children’s charities and creating helpful partnerships. $1 from every transaction will help our charitable partners, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, V Foundation and the Quarterbacking Children’s Health Foundation. TicketSmarter is the title sponsor of the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl with ESPN Events. Additionally, TicketSmarter is the official ticket resale partner of more than 40 minor league baseball clubs, 35 collegiate conferences including the Pac-12 Conference and Big 10, and 300-plus universities nationwide. Each purchase is covered by TicketSmarter’s 100% ticket guarantee.
About Gannett
Gannett Co., Inc. is a subscription-led and digitally focused media and marketing solutions company committed to empowering communities to thrive. With an unmatched reach at the national and local level, Gannett touches the lives of millions with our Pulitzer Prize-winning content, consumer experiences and benefits, and advertiser products and services. Our current portfolio of media assets includes USA TODAY, local media organizations in 46 states in the U.S., and Newsquest, a wholly owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom with more than 120 local news media brands. Gannett also owns the digital marketing services companies ReachLocal, Inc., UpCurve, Inc., and WordStream, Inc., which are marketed under the LOCALiQ brand, and runs the largest media-owned events business in the U.S., USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures. To connect with us, visit www.gannett.com.