This summer, Ticketmaster will issue its last ticket to DU sports and arts patrons.
The University will switch from the online ticket service provider to a new system, Paciolan on July 1. The switch should mean lower service fees and a better showcase for DU Athletics and Newman Center for the Performing Arts events. The system also will allow patrons to buy tickets directly through DU websites and provide more direct customer relations.
“[It will create] a better fan experience with students, faculty and staff, but also the general public — season ticket holders and individual game and performing arts show buyers,” says Darren Duplechin, director of box office operations for DU’s Division of Athletics and Recreation. “It’s going to be good for the University as well as our general public.”
Duplechin says the University initiated a search for a new ticketing vendor for several reasons.
DU has used Ticketmaster since Magness Arena was completed in 1999, but Ticketmaster always dictated how the University charged fees. Patrons were charged high fees to purchase tickets online and had to purchase tickets for athletic events and performing arts shows through Ticketmaster’s website.
Instead, Paciolan will allow DU the flexibility to set its own fees, offer new features and purchase and print tickets online with a reduced convenience fee. Also, tickets will be sold directly through the Athletics and Newman Center websites, Duplechin says. Consumers also will have a variety of delivery options, including printing their tickets at home, picking them up at will call or having them mailed.
“We thought it was time for a change to eliminate some of the fee structure for fans and to generate new revenue streams,” Duplechin says.
By next year, Duplechin says, DU officials would like for students to be able to buy tickets online in their dorm rooms and print them straight from their student ID cards.
Paciolan also offers a customer relations management tool that will allow DU to incorporate a customer sales function into its ticketing system. The tool will enable the Athletics Department and the Newman Center to maintain relationships with individual and season-ticket holders, build fan bases and sell more tickets.
“The system was generated and geared for college ticketing,” Duplechin says. “We think that the option for going with Paciolan was solely based on the schools they’ve touched and how well we can show what we’re doing at DU.”
Paciolan was founded in 1980 and provides services for more than 100 Division I schools.
“We’re excited to welcome the University of Denver to our college athletics family of more than 100 colleges and universities throughout the U.S.,” says Dave Butler, chief executive officer of Paciolan. “We look forward to working with them to achieve their goals with our industry-leading ticketing, fundraising and marketing solutions.”
For more information about Paciolan, visit www.paciolan.com.