MSG & TM Extend Pact

(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) —
Ticketmaster and Madison Square Garden (MSG) have signed a multi-year contract extension to provide complete ticketing solutions for MSG's four facilities: Madison Square Garden, the Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and the Hartford Civic Center. As part of the agreement, Ticketmaster will provide in-house software to handle individual event ticketing and season ticketing services at Madison Square Garden, sell and distribute tickets to MSG venues, and support customized marketing and customer relationship management solutions through Ticketmaster's Suite of Product Solutions.

"In evaluating our opportunities, we found that only Ticketmaster, our long-standing partner, offered us the flexibility that our business demands and the customer service that's consistent with our high standards," said Steve Mills, president, MSG Sports. "These days, arenas have many ticketing options available to them, but we believe Ticketmaster's depth and breadth of technology and service is second to none."

Madison Square Garden was among the first venues in the country to install Ticketmaster's innovative TeamExchange, a team-sanctioned online marketplace giving select New York Knicks and New York Rangers season ticket holders the ability to sell their unused tickets, opening up previously unavailable premium seats to the general public. Since launching in August 2002, more than 33,000 Rangers and Knicks tickets have been posted for sale or forwarded to other fans.

"Ticketmaster prides itself in providing superior service and cutting-edge technology," said John Pleasants, resident and CEO, Ticketmaster. "Having participated in this competitive bidding process and coming out on top speaks volumes for what we are able to offer our clients. You will sell more tickets through Ticketmaster. We will drive your overall business. All the products, all the technology, and all the service we provide are about selling more tickets, better."

"We've been providing ticketing and technology solutions to Madison Square Garden for more than 15 years," said Marla Hoicowitz, executive vice president, Ticketmaster East. "Offering some of the best and most sought after sports, family and arts entertainment, Madison Square Garden venues are among America's finest and most well-attended. Through their aggressive approach to consumer satisfaction and convenience, they are also among the most innovative and forward thinking. We are pleased to continue our long and successful relationship." –Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner