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SeatGeek

By: Robert F. Higgins and Sarah Mehta
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:19
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Abstract

In late 2016, Russ D'Souza and Jack Groetzinger, co-founders of the online event ticketing platform SeatGeek, faced some difficult decisions. In the company's seven-year history, SeatGeek had positioned itself primarily as an aggregator, facilitating ticket transactions between sellers and buyers on the "secondary ticket market." But in early 2016, D'Souza and Groetzinger had decided to pursue the "primary ticket market"—contracting directly with the sports teams and venues that issued tickets to events, a space dominated by Ticketmaster. This move would require SeatGeek to confront Ticketmaster, an established incumbent; develop or acquire the back-end software necessary to enable primary market ticket sales; and establish partnerships with sports teams and event venues. Entering the primary market would also likely necessitate a Series D funding round.

Keywords

Event Ticketing; Sports Ticketing; Acquisition; Business Model; Decision Making; Cost vs Benefits; Digital Platforms; Sports; Strategy; Information Technology; Mobile and Wireless Technology; Digital Platforms

Citation

Higgins, Robert F., and Sarah Mehta. "SeatGeek." Harvard Business School Case 819-013, October 2018.
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    • May 2019
    • Faculty Research

    SeatGeek

    By: Robert F. Higgins and Sarah Mehta
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  • SeatGeek By: Robert F. Higgins and Sarah Mehta
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