Ticketing and event technology platform Eventbrite has become Europe's third largest ticketing platform after acquiring self-service specialist Ticketscript.
In 2016, the two companies combined European operations processed more than 35 million tickets worth over €500 million (£428m) for nearly one million events. Following the acquisition, around a quarter (23%) of Eventbrite’s global employees will work in Europe.
Ticketscript, founded in 2006, is headquartered in Amsterdam and is active in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium.
Frans Jonker, CEO of Ticketscript, who will join Eventbrite as GM for continental Europe, said: “We have been building significant market presence in Europe for 10 years, with a focus on self-service ticketing for music events. We share Eventbrite’s passion for allowing event organisers to control their event marketing and ticketing, whilst retaining their end customer data. Joining forces with Eventbrite, the global innovation leader in event technology, will no doubt help further accelerate the digital transformation of the European live experience industry.”
Founded in San Francisco in 2006, Eventbrite opened its first international office in London in 2011, and maintains bases in eight countries on four continents. The company’s other European operations are in Ireland, Germany, and most recently the Netherlands. Eventbrite processed 150m tickets for more than 600,000 event organisers in 180 countries last year.
The acquisition makes Eventbrite the third biggest ticketing platform in Europe, behind only Ticketmaster and CTS Eventim.
“This acquisition supercharges Eventbrite’s footprint in Europe and brings 10 additional years of traction in the music space and experience in European markets to our business," said Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz (pictured). "It perfectly aligns with our strategic vision to become the world’s leading marketplace for live experiences, and adds significant assets and technical power to our platform. We are looking forward to this new partnership combining the best solutions from both companies, and bringing them to our customers around the world.”
Read Music Week's 2016 Big Interview with Hartz here.
