Future of ticket collecting

[steve B]

I can't say that any sports teams do the same, but I had an interesting ticket experience last night.
I got a ticket online to see the Experience Hendrix show, and of course got an email to print out. But my wife selected will call rather than printing out a ticket.
Get to the box office, totally different entrance. Hand over my printout expecting them to simply verify it and send me in. They verified, then handed me a paper ticket, which was scanned before entry by the guy standing maybe 5 ft away.

I'll have to try it the next time we buy Red Sox tickets.

[midmo]

Originally Posted by steve B

I can't say that any sports teams do the same, but I had an interesting ticket experience last night.
I got a ticket online to see the Experience Hendrix show, and of course got an email to print out. But my wife selected will call rather than printing out a ticket.
Get to the box office, totally different entrance. Hand over my printout expecting them to simply verify it and send me in. They verified, then handed me a paper ticket, which was scanned before entry by the guy standing maybe 5 ft away.

I'll have to try it the next time we buy Red Sox tickets.

Yep, this is what I do. I typically choose will call for sporting events to get physical tickets.

[insidethewrapper]

Supply is and will be definitely lower than in the past for real tickets. Most fans walking thru the gates now I notice either have a paper read out or use a scan on their phone etc. Real tickets for significant games may be in low supply.

[mcgwirecom]

While many of the teams are getting out of the physical season ticket business there is still, and probably will always be, the box office ticket. If you know a milestone is imminent you can still buy tickets at the box office. The problem lies with events that are random, like no hitters and such. There will probably still be people who went to the game at the last minute and bought a hard ticket at the box office, however this will mean that demand will be much higher than supply so expect to pay!

[oldjudge]

Keith is one of the nicest, most knowledgeable people in the hobby. I am proud to call him a friend.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

The latest issue of Memories and Dreams the bi-monthly magazine of the Baseball Hall of Fame has an article on this very subject. The author, Bill Francis believes the current lack of tickets will only strengthen the hobby as people look to the past for memories?

The article gives a history of teams switching to computer then mobile devises. It mentions that the Nationals stopped printing tickets for season ticket holders in 2013.

This not an area of collecting that I know anything about but the short article in well done. It may be on-line at the BBHOF?

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

The latest issue of Memories and Dreams the bi-monthly magazine of the Baseball Hall of Fame has an article on this very subject. The author, Bill Francis believes the current lack of tickets will only strengthen the hobby as people look to the past for memories?

The article gives a history of teams switching to computer then mobile devises. It mentions that the Nationals stopped printing tickets for season ticket holders in 2013.

This not an area of collecting that I know anything about but the short article in well done. It may be on-line at the BBHOF?

Exactly...

[RTK]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

Supply is and will be definitely lower than in the past for real tickets. Most fans walking thru the gates now I notice either have a paper read out or use a scan on their phone etc. Real tickets for significant games may be in low supply.

I recall attending Robin Yount's 3000th hit game, and buying a half dozen or so extra tickets from the box office after he got the hit. I've managed to save just about all of my stubs from games I've attended except for my earliest childhood games, unfortunately. This year I attended my first sporting event without a paper ticket, a Tampa Bay Lightning hockey game in March. The only way to get an actual stub is buying a ticket, day of game, from the arena. I believe STH's have the option of having tickets printed. I don't like electronic phone tickets. Tomorrow I start my season of sitting in the Wrigley bleachers, forced to using electronic phone tickets for the first time in baseball. In the event of something historic, I will not have an official ticket stub and that stinks.

...also when I asked to buy a hockey program at Amelie Arena in Tampa, I was told they no longer print them, all the player information is on their team app....

[RCMcKenzie]

I went to the Astros Yankees game last night and they gave me this paperstock ticket to show the usher as I entered and they scanned the phone virtual ticket. I crumpled it up and put it in my pocket... Who knows 100 years from now. It has Altuve on it and he homered in the game.