Ticketmaster was founded in Phoenix, Arizona by college staffers Albert Leffler and Peter Gadwa as well as businessman Gordon Gunn III. Albert comes up with Ticketmaster as the name for the new company
1977
Electric Light Orchestra at the University of New Mexico is Ticketmaster's first ticketed concert
1978
First international clients signed in Oslo, Norway
Louisiana Superdome is the first major venue signed
First major league team signed is NBA New Orleans Jazz (now Utah Jazz)
1980
The first Canadian client is signed with National Arts Centre in Ottawa
1981
Ticketmaster UK is established in the heart of London's West End above the Albery Theatre
1982
Fred Rosen appointed Ticketmaster's CEO and moves the company to Los Angeles, where its HQ is still based today
1983
Ticketmaster signs Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and LA Forum, LA Lakers and LA Kings
Deal signed with Arsenal, the longest standing client of the company
1984
New Ticketmaster logo launches
1987
Ticketmaster Canada established in Toronto
1988
Ticketing operations launch in Australia
1991
Ticketmaster acquires its major competitor Ticketron
1994
Barcode ticketing launches with Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field
Tickets for Kids youth incentive program established in Atlanta, GA
Ticketmaster tickets 1994 World Cup; highest attended World Cup in history and highest attended single event in US history
Barcode scanning hardware debuts at NHRA race events in Pomona, CA
First AccessManager scanning system installed for Charlotte Coliseum
Ticketmaster UK tickets UEFA Euros
1996
Ticketmaster.com's first-ever Internet ticket sale occurs (for Seattle Mariners)
Ticketmaster becomes publicly traded on NASDAQ
1997
Ticketmaster Ireland launches
Synchro Systems Limited is acquired and a new office in Stoke-on-Trent, England is opened
1998
Ticketmaster.co.uk launches and is rated UK's number one ticketing website by Hitwise
First portable wireless scanner debuts at Reunion Arena in Dallas
LiveDaily.com debuts
Ticketing operations established in Mexico
1999
Logo redesigned
Joint venture in Australia formed with Seven Network
2000
Online account management for season ticket sales debuts for Dallas Mavericks
Print-at-home TicketFast® online ticket delivery service debuts for Staples Center
TicketWeb, VISTA, and Admission Canada acquired
2001
Reserve America acquired
Ticketmaster launches in Norway
Deal with Clear Channel (now Live Nation) first penned to provide ticketing for their events. As part of the deal, a small call center in Manchester was acquired
2002
Ticketmaster tickets the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games
Ticketmaster launches in the Netherlands and Denmark
Word verification added to online transactions to prevent automated access
Season ticket holder resale and forwarding services debut for Columbus Blue Jackets
2003
First-ever online auction conducted for Lewis/Johnson heavyweight championship for AEG and Staples Center
Ticketmaster becomes wholly-owned by IAC/InterActiveCorp
2004
Sweden and Finland launch
Ticketmaster tickets the 2004 Athens Olympic Games
2005
TicketExchange resale service debuts
Ticketmaster New Zealand and Ticketmaster Germany established
2006
Spain and Turkey launch
First Ticketmaster Auction launched in the UK with the Guinness Premiership Final
The successful launch of mobile ticketing with MobileTicket at the O2 Wireless Festival
Ticketmaster tickets the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games
2007
More than two million free iTunes songs given to Ticketmaster.com customers
Ticket resale partnerships established with NBA, NFL and NHL
2008
Gehua Ticketmaster tickets the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Online resale marketplaces TicketsNow in the US and GET ME IN! in the UK acquired
Ticketmaster launches VIP packages
Paperless tickets debut in the UK with Metallica at the O2 Arena - the largest ever Paperless event with over 18,000 attending
Paperless Ticket™ launches in the US for Tom Waits tour
Ticketmaster spins out from IAC, begins trading on NASDAQ under the ticker TKTM
Ticketmaster and Rim partner to bring mobile ticket purchasing to Blackberry
Ticketmaster partners with Yahoo!
Ticketmaster acquires Front Line Management, becomes Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc.
2009
Ticketmaster appointed official ticketing services provider for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games
Ticketmaster surpasses sales of one million Paperless tickets
Ticketmaster UK sells record-breaking number of tickets for Michael Jackson's 50-date residency at the O2. Following the singer's death, all tickets can either be kept at full cost by fans or are refunded
2010
Ticketmaster Entertainment and Live Nation merge to form Live Nation Entertainment
