tulsa convention center

COSTA MESA, Calif., Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Tickets.com, a leading provider of integrated ticketing solutions, announced today the company signed an agreement with facility management firm SMG to provide ticketing services and digital ticketing functionality for the Tulsa Convention Center Arena, in time for ticket sales for an upcoming TOOL concert.

Under the agreement, Tulsa Convention Center Arena will take advantage of Tickets.com's comprehensive ticketing solution, which combines a turnkey box office management system with ticket selling and distribution services. Upon installation of Tickets.com's ProVenueElite(R) high-volume ticketing system and its client-branded ProVenueOnline(R) Internet engine, Tulsa Convention Center Arena will begin selling tickets on its own Web site for arena events.

The agreement ensures that the Tulsa Convention Center Arena will be on the leading edge of ticketing technology, while enriching the ticket transaction process for consumers. Tulsa Convention Center Arena will utilize the Tickets@Home(R) feature and Access Control, enabling ticket buyers to print tickets on their home or office computers and allow the arena to capture important customer data.

Beginning October 12, with the TOOL concert onsale, consumers will have several options to purchase tickets, including online a via telephone at 877-TUL-SACC, select Tulsa area Homeland locations or at the Tulsa Convention Center Arena box office. Following this onsale, tickets for the Tulsa Oilers go onsale October 15th.

The 8,900-seat Tulsa Convention Center Arena is home to the Central Hockey League Tulsa Oilers and the 2007 Arena Cup Champion Tulsa Talons AF2 football team. The arena also hosts blockbuster concerts, family shows and motorsports.

"We wanted a ticketing system that would allow us to sell tickets online under the Tulsa Convention Center Arena brand, in addition to giving consumers multiple channels in which to purchase tickets. Tickets.com has a solid footprint in the Oklahoma market and they provided the ideal solution for our needs," said John Bolton, General Manager, SMG Tulsa.

"We're looking forward to helping Tulsa Convention Center Arena build brand recognition by delivering the technology that allows them to sell tickets online through their own Web site and provide fans with an easy, convenient ticket buying experience," said Derek Palmer, Chief-Commercial Officer, Tickets.com. "We're pleased to be adding another SMG-managed facility to our growing client list."

About SMG

Founded in 1977, SMG is the world leader in venue management, marketing and development. The company manages convention centers, exhibition halls and trade centers, arenas, stadiums, performing arts centers, theaters, and specific-use venues such as equestrian centers.

About Tickets.com

Tickets.com, a subsidiary of MLB Advanced Media, LP, the interactive media and Internet Company of Major League Baseball, is a premier event ticketing solutions and services provider for thousands of top worldwide entertainment and sports venues.

The Maxwell Convention Center's new private management company has chosen Tickets.com as its ticketing service.

Carson Attractions, the former provider, recently went out of business.

"Tickets.com has a solid footprint in the Oklahoma market, and they provided the ideal solution for our needs," SMG Tulsa General Manager John Bolton said Monday.

SMG began its five-year, $1.9 million contract with the city July 1 to manage the Convention Center and the new 18,000-seat BOK Center, which is set to open in September.

The Tickets.com contract will run until June 30.

At that time, a new ticketing agreement will be sought to include both city venues.

Carson Attractions, which was begun locally in 1916, never had an exclusive agreement to be the ticketing agent for the Convention Center.

But because the company was based in the facility, the relationship naturally developed.

Tulsa Oilers owner Jeff Lund bought Carson Attractions a year ago to keep it going so his hockey team would have ticketing continuity.

He said he closed the doors in August when the Convention Center's management decided that the venue needed a national ticketing firm.

"That was really fine with me," Lund said. "It would have been a bonus had they stuck with Carson Attractions, but I understand their decision."

Tickets.com, which used to be the ticketing agent for Oklahoma City's Ford Center, is providing a database of thousands of potential area customers.

It also has a powerful online system that can handle high-volume traffic, capture customer data and allow buyers to print their tickets at home.

"They have all of the amenities we need," Bolton said.

The Convention Center is not directly paying Tickets.com for the service.

The ticketing company will make its money through a per-ticket convenience charge, as did Carson Attractions.

For family shows and minor league sporting events, the convenience fee is changing from a flat $3.50 per ticket to a range of $2.25 to $3.75, depending on the seat cost.

For all other events, the fee is changing from a flat rate of $5.25 by phone and $6.25 by Internet to a range of $2.75 to $8.25, depending on the seat cost.

"We used the old numbers as a guide but felt it was more fair to have a lower charge on the cheaper seats and a higher charge on the more expensive seats," Bolton said.

Buyers can avoid the convenience charge by purchasing tickets in person at the Convention Center's box office.

A new facility fee of $2 per ticket will be added, but it will not apply to Tulsa Oilers and Tulsa Talons arena football season ticket holders.

"It's standard for a venue to have a facility fee to help pay for ongoing maintenance and operations," Bolton said.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.tulsaworld.com/tickets or by phone at (877) TUL-SACC or in person at Tulsa-area Homeland grocery stores or at the Convention Center's box office.

Using the new service, tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday for a Nov. 19 concert by the rock band Tool in the Convention Center's arena.

All seats will cost $52.50, which includes the facility fee but not the convenience charge.

Tickets for the Oilers' games will go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday. Tickets range from $12 to $21, plus the applicable convenience charge.

Add $2 for games that the Oilers play against the Oklahoma City Blazers or Wichita Thunder.