Ticketmaster Acquires Leading Dutch Live Event Ticketing Company

Ticketmaster has acquired Ticket Service Nederland BV, The Netherlands' leading live event ticketing company. Ticket Service Nederland, based in The Hague, has been servicing the Dutch market since June 30, 1998, selling nearly 3 million tickets annually for some of the country's leading event producers.

"The acquisition of Ticket Service Nederland follows our recent expansions into Norway and Scotland and adds an important market to Ticketmaster's growing European network," said Edwin S. ("Trip") Friendly III, executive vice president of Ticketmaster International. "We have grown our European business substantially over the past 12 months and look to continue to expand our footprint in the future.

"Ticket Service Nederland is an exceptionally well-run business with solid growth prospects and we are pleased to welcome General Manager, Peter van Ruijven and his team to the Ticketmaster family," Friendly added.

Earlier this year, Ticketmaster announced its selection as the official ticketing provider and supporter of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and the exclusive ticketing services supplier for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

"We believe Ticketmaster's expertise in the business and commitment to providing ticketing and access solutions will benefit our clients by supporting their ticket sales and enabling them to develop their business further," said Peter van Ruijven, General Manager of Ticket Service Nederland B.V. "We also expect to leverage Ticketmaster's technology in order to enter new market segments and expand our client base."

Ticketmaster's European ticketing operations now include England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Norway and The Netherlands.