Owen Lloyd
Verified- Reporter, The Stadium Business
- Reporter, SportBusiness
- Reporter, The Ticketing Business
Milton Keynes
Reporter for SportBusiness, TheStadiumBusiness, and more. Formerly with @insidethegames.
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Articles by Owen Lloyd
FEAT members demand access to illegal ticket sites cut
Members of the Fully-authorised European Alliance for Ticketing (FEAT) have reaffirmed their stance that promoter-authorised resale is the only way to guarantee a genuine ticket and tackle ticket fraud. Attendees from seven countries gathered for FEAT’s Annual General Meeting in Barcelona, with many stating that access must be cut to illegal ticket sites.
The Beatles immersive fan experience opening in Liverpool
Apple Corps has announced plans for a new Liverpool city centre redevelopment and a new home for The Beatles Story. The attraction will move in 2028 from its current home in Liverpool’s Albert Dock to a new site that was formerly St Johns Market opposite Liverpool Lime Street Station. In addition, the St Johns Beacon will also house a Yellow Submarine themed viewing experience over the city. The Beacon will operate as a standalone attraction, although fans will be able to bundle both experiences.
Kennedy Center preparing for switch from Tessitura to Ticketmaster, hires new artistic head
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. is preparing to switch its ticketing provider from Tessitura to Ticketmaster, and has also hired a new artistic director in Rick Canny. The ticketing change is said to have been in the works since 2024 when officials began evaluating Ticketmaster. Canny, who has been a senior adviser to the Kennedy Center since April 2025, was instrumental in the decision to change. The transition is set to be completed today.
BlogThèque unveils integrated ticketing system
Website management system BlogThèque has launched an integrated ticketing system that now allows users to offer bookings directly from event pages. With the system, fans can now reserve their seats, pay online, and find tickets to concerts, shows, conferences and more in their personal account. “From the administration panel, you can view reservations, track payments, and access participant tickets,” read a BlogThèquestatement.
Singapore set to host only BTS fan activation in Southeast Asia
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has partnered with Hybe to bring BTS The City Arirang to the country from December 1-31 this year. The agreement makes Singapore the first and only Southeast Asian stop in 2026, with the event due to be the largest fan activation ever held for a recording artist on the island. It will build up to BTS’ return to Singapore for a four-night concert run at the National Stadium on December 17, 19, 20, and 22.
Dubai Racing Club partners with Ticketmaster
Dubai Racing Club has appointed Ticketmaster as its official ticketing partner for the 2026-27 season. The partnership will see Ticketmaster power Dubai Racing Club’s ticketing website for events including the Dubai Racing Carnival and Dubai World Cup. “Dubai Racing Club puts on some of the biggest dates in the global horseracing calendar, from the Dubai Racing Carnival through to the Dubai World Cup,” said Ticketmaster Middle East managing director Andreas Müeller.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix set for record sales, organisers claim
Organisers of this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix have claimed that the event is on track to set a new record for ticket sales. Last year’s edition set the benchmark with approximately 203,000 fans in attendance. David Powell, the chief portfolio and strategy officer of race promoter Ethara, claims that more tickets will be sold than ever before for the race weekend set to take place from December 3-6.
Internal review to be launched after low cricket attendance in South Africa
The Kwa-Zulu Natal Cricket Union (KZNCU) is set to launch a “thorough internal review” into poor attendance at the cricket Test match between South Africa and Australia in Durban. A total of just under 20,000 fans attended the five-day game at Kingsmead Cricket Ground, which was South Africa’s first home Test since January 2025 and the first at home since becoming World Test champions.
Music Venue Trust launches study into grassroots venues
Music Venue Trust (MVT) and Audoo have begun a three-month study into music performed in grassroots venues, following initial research which matched 21% of measured live performance audio to known songs.
Stadiums Queensland welcomes record six million guests
Stadiums Queensland’s venues have ended the 2025-26 financial year having welcomed a record six million patrons. The body owns nine venues throughout the Australian state including Suncorp Stadium, The Gabba, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Cbus Super Stadium, and People First Stadium. The facilities hosted more than 190 major events in total such as a British and Irish Lions Test against the Wallabies, Australia’s win over England in The Ashes, and a sell-out NRL Magic Round.
Rutgers Athletics extends ticketing partnership with Playfly Sports
Rutgers Athletics has extended its ticketing partnership with Playfly Sports, which originally began in 2019. Playfly’s on-campus team of 12 powers ticket sales, service, and premium for all Rutgers ticketed sporting events as well as supporting philanthropic donations through the R Fund. “Playfly continues to serve as a key partner for Rutgers Athletics, helping to drive revenue growth for our department,” said Todd Knisley, chief operating and revenue officer, Rutgers Athletics.
Seat Unique appointed for Fury vs Joshua as F1’s Norris invests in platform
Seat Unique has been appointed as the official hospitality partner for the boxing match between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua on December 11, while reigning Formula 1 champion Lando Norris has acquired a stake in the platform. The role will see Seat Unique sell and deliver the entire premium experiences programme for the all-British heavyweight fight set to take place in Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Hospitality packages for the event range from £299 ($395/€350) to £18,995 per person.
Melbourne Park, Frontier Touring launch all ages concert series
Melbourne Park has partnered with Frontier Touring to launch Supagloo, a new all ages concert series. It will be an ongoing, multi-genre quarterly series with the first two events confirmed for December 10 and April 2. The series has been conceived around creating a stage for a new wave of Australian artists and providing a real-life platform for live music discovery for young fans.
Cricket World Cup reaches 15 million ticket applications
A total of 15,083,752 ticket applications and 4,423,417 ballot registrations have been received for the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup. The ballot went live at the start of the month and has generated interest from fans in 142 countries around the world.
South Korean government to combat on-site ticket touting
South Korea’s government is increasing the police presence at Korea Baseball Organisation (KBO) matches in a bid to tackle in-person ticket touting. The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said that it will conduct scalping crackdowns at all postseason ballparks and surrounding areas. The playoffs are set to begin tomorrow (October 14) with a match between the Doosan Bears and LG Twins at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul.
American Express named title sponsor of Hong Kong Sail GP, ticketing details revealed
SailGP has made American Express the title sponsor of the inaugural Hong Kong Sail Grand Prix which is set to take place on January 23 and 24 next year at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. The sponsorship will give American Express card members priority ticket booking with an early access window from October 21-22. Sail GP+ members will then be able to buy tickets from October 23-26 before general sale to the public begins on October 27.
Visit Qatar launches UFC ticket sales on new platform
Visit Qatar has launched ticket sales for the UFC Fight Night event taking place at Doha’s Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena on November 21. The onsale is being carried out through a new platform unveiled by the tourism board that aims to bring event discovery and ticket purchasing into one system. Prices range from QAR 175 (£36/$48/€42) to QAR 9,000.
Singapore Grand Prix draws its second-highest attendance in history
This year’s Singapore Grand Prix, which took place from October 9-11, drew a total attendance of 301,294 fans making it the second-most popular edition of the Formula 1 event since it joined the calendar in 2008. This was the second-highest attendance on record for the three-day race weekend at the Marina Bay Street Circuit and the highest since the track change in 2023.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium breaks its record for an NFL crowd
Yesterday’s (October 11) match between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles set a new record attendance for an NFL match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a crowd of 61,322. The Jaguars won the game 19-17 with a Cam Little field goal in the last second from 57 yards. The fixture beat the London venue’s previous benchmark of 61,273 which was set in 2023 in a match between the Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills.
Australian Open early ticket sales up by 20%
The 2027 Australian Open is on a record pace for ticket sales as the event’s early figures are up by more than 20% compared to the previous edition. This is credited to an earlier ticket onsale date of August 13 as well as a double-headed launch event in Melbourne prior to the tournaments scheduled for January 11-31.
SC Delhi makes BookMyShow official ticketing partner
Sporting Club Delhi has made BookMyShow its official ticketing partner for the 2026-27 season. BookMyShow will serve as the official ticketing platform for the football club’s home matches during the 2026-27 Indian Super League season, which begins tomorrow (October 10). “Football is ultimately about the connection between the team and its fans, and we want to make that connection as strong as possible in Delhi,” said Sporting Club Delhi chief executive Dhruv Sood.
Red Star FC employs Blond to digitise accreditation management
French football club Red Star FC has chosen Blond to digitise its accreditation management operation. The goal is to automate operations that were previously performed manually, starting with the processing of recurring requests and the issuing of passes. The club also plans to implement accreditation scanning on match days to strengthen access control and security standards at Stade Bauer. “For the club, the primary objective is to save time.
Leeds United to consider AI-powered dynamic ticket pricing
Leeds United is debating whether to introduce AI-powered dynamic ticket pricing in a bid to increase revenue. The Premier League club’s chairman Paraag Marathe said loyal fans could be rewarded with cheaper prices while more casual fans would face higher costs. “There’s probably an opportunity to do it in a way that does increase revenue but also makes it affordable for your most hardcore fans,” Marathe said at the Leaders Week London event at Stamford Bridge, as reported by City AM.
Ticketmaster named official ticketing partner of Danaos Cinema
Ticketmaster has been appointed as the official ticketing partner of Danaos Cinema in Athens. The agreement builds on Ticketmaster’s existing work with Danaos at its two cinemas, Anesis and Danaos Costa Navarino, and extends the relationship to the company’s Athens venue.
Bad Bunny, The Weeknd concerts boost Stockholm economy by more than $100m
Concerts from Bad Bunny and The Weeknd have boosted Stockholm’s economy by SEK1.18 bn (£89.2m/$117.9m/€105m) in direct tourism-related spending, according to a commissioned analysis. The five shows, in July and August, brought approximately 195,000 people to the Swedish capital with visitors spending an average of just over SEK2,000 per day. The analysis was conducted by Upplevelseinstitutet (Experience Institute) for Live Nation, Stockholm Business Region and Stockholm Live.
Firefox partners with AEG for quicker entry to Berlin venue
Firefox has partnered with Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) to bring quicker entry to Uber Arena in Berlin. Fans with Firefox downloaded on their phone will have access to a dedicated Firefox Fast Lane that allows them to skip the queue at the Uber Arena. To ensure the smoothest possible entry, a QR code for downloading Firefox will also be available at the fast lane.
Champ Rugby signs multi-year deal with TicketCo in UK first
Champ Rugby, the second tier of English men’s rugby union, has signed a multi-year agreement with TicketCo to make it the official ticketing platform for the entire league. The partnership will bring every club onto a single platform in order to create a centralised fan data source for the league. The goal of this is to see more fans attend matches, generating more revenue for each team in what is the first league-wide ticketing deal of its kind in the UK.
Boston Legacy FC makes Jump ticketing partner
Boston Legacy FC has named Jump as its exclusive fan experience and ticketing partner for the 2027 season which is scheduled to begin on February 11. Through the partnership, fans of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club will be able to purchase tickets, shop for merchandise, and order concessions through a team-branded mobile app.
Cricket World Cup ticket applications exceed one million
Ticket ballot applications for the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup have surpassed the one million mark in less than three days. More than 320,000 fans have registered for the ballot which remains open until November 21. The tournament is set to run from October 2 to November 21 next year in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
Doechii, Fontaines D.C. among Primavera Sound 2027 headliners
Doechii and Fontaines D.C. are among the headliners for the 2027 edition of Primavera Sound, scheduled to take place from June 2-6 next year. The festival is set to return to Barcelona’s Parc del Fòrum in 2027 and will celebrate its 25th anniversary. Phoebe Bridgers, Massive Attack, Turnstile, Hayley Williams, FKA twigs, The Chemical Brothers, Robyn, Bad Gyal, Lola Young, Pavement, Skrillex b2b Ninajirachi, ADÉLA, Prospa, and Caroline Polachek are also due to headline the event.
Georgia Tech Athletics renews with Paciolan
Georgia Tech Athletics has renewed its long-running partnership with Paciolan to maintain the company as its official ticketing provider. Paciolan has served as Georgia Tech Athletics’ ticketing platform provider since 1984 and also provides the university’s athletics department with marketing, fundraising, and data analytics services.
Melbourne City FC signs 10-year partnership with Intix
Melbourne City FC has entered into a decade-long partnership with Intix, with the aim of providing a bespoke data-driven membership experience. The collaboration seeks to transform club memberships from a simple transaction into a fully embedded fan engagement experience. “Membership is much more than a transaction.
Zach Bryan sets Gillette Stadium attendance record
Zach Bryan broke the record for the most attended event in Gillette Stadium history on Saturday (October 3) as 73,538 fans saw him perform. The show was the second of two nights at the Massachusetts venue for Bryan as part of his With Heaven On Tour. The tour is his biggest yet, spanning more than 40 dates across North America and Europe.
Super League Grand Final achieves fourth-highest all-time attendance
The sold-out Super League Grand Final, which took place on Saturday (October 3), drew an attendance of 71,728 at Manchester’s Old Trafford, making it the fourth-highest in competition history. The rugby league event saw Wakefield Trinity beat Warrington Wolves 23-10 to become Grand Final winners for the first time in history. It was Wakefield’s first appearance in the showpiece event and Warrington’s first since 2018.
Glastonbury tickets sell out in 42 minutes
Tickets for next year’s Glastonbury Festival sold out in 42 minutes, organisers claim, after they went on sale at 9am local time yesterday (October 4). Following a fallow year, the event at Worthy Farm in Somerset is set to return from June 23-27. Thousands of people joined the online queue for tickets that were at their highest ever price of £408 ($540/€480), marking an increase of £29.50 from the last edition in 2025.
MLB drops Grand Teton National Park game plan
The plan to stage a Major League Baseball (MLB) match at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming has been dropped. In a letter sent to Teton County officials, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said that the league was conducting “due diligence” on several sites that could host an MLB game, though it had not yet evaluated the environmental impact or solicited community input about the idea, as reported by The Athletic.
Wrocław planning to build 16,000-capacity arena
Wrocław city officials are weighing up the possibility of building a 16,000-capacity arena on undeveloped land near to Tarczyński Arena. The city has carried out a feasibility and profitability study which states that the venue, whose capacity could be expanded to 24,000 for concerts, is estimated to cost PLN900m (£175m/$232m/€205m). City officials state that this does not mean the project is confirmed but serves as a basis for further consultations.
Rice Stadium signs 20-year naming rights deal as first in its history
Rice Stadium has been renamed to First Community Stadium after Rice University signed the venue’s first naming rights deal in its 76-year history. The 20-year agreement with First Community Credit Union sees the company become the official financial institution of Rice Football, Rice Athletics, and the Association of Rice Alumni. The new name will be in effect for tomorrow’s match against UTSA, with two new sponsor logos to be featured at the 20-yard line.
Wrocław planning to build 24,000-seat arena
Wrocław city officials are weighing up the possibility of building a 24,000-seat arena on undeveloped land near to Tarczyński Arena. The city has carried out a feasibility and profitability study which states that the venue is estimated to cost PLN900m (£175m/$232m/€205m). City officials state that this does not mean the project is confirmed but serves as a basis for further consultations.
Denver Summit breaks ground on delayed stadium, Boston Legacy signs catering partner
Denver Summit FC has broken ground on its landmark new stadium, with the timeline and capacity plans adjusted while fellow National Women’s Soccer League side Boston Legacy FC has signed Levy as a food and beverage partner. The Colorado club has begun construction on its permanent stadium at Sante Fe yards, but the project’s timeline has been adjusted.
Wanderers Stadium lands Cricket World Cup final
Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg has been awarded hosting rights for the 2027 Cricket World Cup. The tournament is set to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from October 2 to November 21 next year. It will be the second time that the 34,000-capacity venue has staged the final after also doing so in 2003.
Oxford United stadium opponents continue legal challenge
Campaigners are set to appeal a judge’s decision to refuse permission for a judicial review of Oxford United’s 16,000-seat stadium planning approval. The club plans to build on a site known as the Triangle and received approval from Cherwell District Council and then from the government last year. In April, an opposition group, Friends of Stratfield Brake (FoSB), lodged a legal complaint claiming the project would have a detrimental impact on local wildlife.
Canadian venues decided for Women’s Volleyball World Cup
Montreal’s Bell Health Centre and Centre Vidéotron in Québec City have been selected as host venues for the 2027 Women’s Volleyball World Cup. The Canadian pair will join the US cities of Omaha, Orlando, and Anaheim as hosts for the 32-team event scheduled to take place from August 20 to September 5 next year. Montreal and Québec City will stage pool phase and round-of-16 matches alongside Omaha’s CHI Health Center Arena and the Honda Center in Orlando.
US venues decided for Women’s Volleyball World Cup
Omaha’s CHI Health Center Arena and Kia Center in Orlando will join Anaheim’s Honda Center as host venues for the 2027 Women’s Volleyball World Cup. Anaheim was confirmed as a host city in September last year and is scheduled to stage the quarterfinals, semi-finals, and final of the tournament.
Live Nation completes Plenitude Arena acquisition
Live Nation has completed its acquisition of Plenitude Arena in Paris from former owner Ovalto. The arena, which is Europe’s largest indoor venue with a capacity of up to 45,000, marks Live Nation’s first acquisition in France. A sale agreement was initially made in January but the deal has been subject to scrutiny by France’s Competition Authority. “A number of investigative steps have been taken over the past few months,” read a statement from the organisation.
Rayo Vallecano to return to stadium earlier than planned
Rayo Vallecano is set to return to its Estadio de Vallecas for the first time in 140 days with a match against Italian side Cagliari on Saturday (October 3). The fixture is reviving the Vallecas Trophy which has not been contested since 2019. The return to the stadium comes earlier than expected for Rayo. The team was cleared to play at the Madrid venue last month in a match against Athletic Club on October 10.
Chicago Fire to launch hospitality offerings priced as high as $25,000
Chicago Fire FC has unveiled new hospitality offerings at its under-construction McDonald’s Park stadium, with prices ranging from $10,000 (£7,500/€8,800) to $25,000. The Major League Soccer club is launching the luxury areas on October 8 with a total of 600 seats available. The most exclusive space, Chairman’s Club, operates on an invite-only basis and features luxury field seats with access to a private bar boasting views into the player tunnel and press conference room.
Hellas Verona submits €300m stadium project to government
Hellas Verona FC has presented its new €300m (£256m/$338m) stadium project to the Municipality of Verona. The 30,000-seat venue will be constructed on the same site as the existing Betegodi Stadium which is due to be demolished. The stands will be brought closer to the pitch in order to create a better match atmosphere. During the demolition phase, a temporary expansion to the Olivieri Stadium is due to take place, allowing the club to continue playing its home matches in Verona.
Bologna seals new stadium agreement as FIGC submits Euro 2032 venue proposal
Bologna FC has reached an agreement with BolognaFieri for the construction of a new 35,000-seat stadium, while the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has submitted dossiers for 14 possible Euro 2032 venues to UEFA. The Bologna project is expected to cost €300m (£256m/$338m) and is set to be built in the city’s business district. The proposal includes a retractable roof and a retractable pitch which will enable the venue to stage concerts, trade fairs, and conferences.
Wembley Stadium, Movistar Arena launch new fan experience initiatives
Wembley Stadium has opened a reimagined entertainment area named North Terrace by Pepsi while Madrid’s Movistar Arena has given attendees an active role in shows as the venues aim to improve the fan experience. Wembley’s North Terrace by Pepsi is located on the fifth level of the stadium and aims to bring more energy to event days across football, music and live entertainment.
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