Sprint Center to be first arena to get Axs Ticketing

Axs Ticketing is coming to Kansas City on Jan. 13, and when it does, the Sprint Center will become the first arena in the nation to use it.

In August, Anschutz Entertainment Group, which operates the Sprint Center, introduced the Axs platform as its alternative to Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation, AEG's largest competitor, in January 2010. Axs (pronounced "access") was first launched at the Bluebird and Ogden theaters in Denver. It has since been  installed at theaters in San Francisco and Dallas. 

On Jan. 13, the Sprint Center and the Midland theater will become Axs venues. That day, tickets will go on sale for two  Sprint Center shows: Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker on April 6; and rapper Drake with ASAP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar on March 1. TIckets will also go on sale for three  shows at the  Midland: Diggy with Jacob Latimore (and others) on Feb. 12; and Creed on May 21 and May 22. Tickets for the Drake show go on sale at noon. Tickets for the three other shows go on sale at 10 a.m.

Shani Tate, senior director of ticket sales at the Sprint Center, said the Axs system was "more user-friendly and more transparent." For example,  during first-day sales for  high-volume shows, on-line customers will log-in and then be sent to a virtual waiting room. From there, they will be able to see where they are in line as they wait to purchase tickets. Customers will also be able to select their seats from what is available when it is their turn to buy. 

The venues' box offices will be open on the first day of ticket sales starting at the same time as on-line sales. Also Axs will not charge a delivery fee to customers who  print the tickets they purchased on-line. Axs pricing will be  "transparent," Tate said, meaning the full price of the ticket, with fees, is evident up front and no extra fees are added as the transaction proceeds.

Axs is the first initiative under Outbox Enterprises, a joint venture among AEG, Cirque du Soleil's ticketing business (Outbox Technology) and Fred Rosen, former chief executive officer at Ticketmaster. AEG plans to expand the program into other markets throughout 2012. Axs ticketing is available on all mobile platforms and via Facebook and Twitter.

Comments

[who-fan]

Will this include the Van Halen show at the Sprint Center on May 22, 2012?

[pellboy]

"The venues' box offices will be open on the first day of ticket sales starting at the same time as on-line sales."

Finally! I've been asking for this ever since the SC opened. Don't know how the new service will compare to TM, but this is a great start. Also, with no extra fees for print at home, already seems to be a marked improvement.

[Professor]

Another Glitter Coated Turd for the sheeple. Oh, box office sales at the same time as online sales, it's like a box of puppies in front of Walmart. What a novel idea....If you think folks really care about getting out of their 'jammies and trottin' down to Sprint for some tickets in the cold of January, I've got boat slips with an ocean view in Phoenix for ya' too. I'll even throw in a box of stain'b'gone so you can wash the b.s. off your boots.

[pellboy]

I care. Not like I'll wait in line or anything as I usually don't give a shit about the "high-volume" Radiohead-like shows anyway, but I would drive down there, pick up a ticket on that first Saturday sans service charges and have a beer or three at the Zoo for a show I cared about. Just want the option, that's all.

[Axel Griese]

I needs to ax a particular question bouts dis new ticketed thingy. Wheres can I ax my question?

[Brad]

Why should it cost 8 or 9 bucks extra (or whatever Satan's minions are charging now) just to buy a ticket?

[bkinder]

actually i went downtown the day Radiohead tickets went on sale, it was a nice day outside and unfortunately, they were not selling them at the box office. It might be old school, but hey, people stand in line to get the new IPhone, I'm sure for high profile shows there will be people willing to go back to old school.

[PT]

Ticketmaster is the pits; their fees are out of control.

[SinCityDisciple]

@pellboy +1

[dave]

will their still be convenience charges?

[TC]

Professor,put a sock in it,jerkoff!

[joe]

when will Van Halen tickets go on sale?

[NEW]

I've purchased tickets at both the Ogden and Bluebird over the last year and I was impressed by how reasonable the on line fees were. I did not realize they were on the Axs platform. This may actually be a good thing although I will still likely continue to take PBs approach.

[Keith]

Professor either works for TicketMaster or hasn't purchased tickets from them in the last few decades. Two rounds of fees PLUS a few bucks to print the damn things on my own paper with my own ink were outrageous. TicketMaster was a classical abusive monopoly, I am glad someone is stepping up to challenge them in KC.

[robertr]

Professor,

I'll go stand in line. Yep.
I think the lines should open up a half hour earlier than E-ticketing but ....

[joeboo]

Now lets just hope they don't end up "merging" with Ticketmaster like Live Nation did and we end up right back where we started in a couple years with a ticket monopoly again.

[don]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. 2-$20.00 tickets via Ticketmaster was going to cost over $65.00...... hopefully this will start their downfall...

[Maniak Productions]

I prefer 'ticketbastard' myself.

As for the new kid on the block, axs, only time will tell.

[Bilvis]

I remember the fun of line numbers. Waiting out front of some store. You knew you would get a good ticket by your number. Now,all this computer stuff just kills it... Just my opinion.

[dtownkcj]

Ticketmaster has been the great evil of the public performance market for some time. AXS can't be anything but better.

Note to editor: There is no "the" in front of Sprint Center.

[billybob]

Ticketmaster sucks.

[Professor]

.....ahhh....the wide eyed optimism of people who think they have a choice....kind of like the rubes lining up to vote in New Hampshire today.....for the record: I'd as soon piss my self before I'd piss on ticketmaster's burning body. two corportate owned venues picking a new ticketing company is hardly a change from the status quo.

[Clint]

If you do one of the pre-sales, you can see what it will look like. It was $36 or some in fees. Printing at home is free, mailing them is $5 and will call is $6. The system is pretty cool overall, just a little different

[Aaron]

I think you guys are forgetting the real news. Creed is coming to town..

[Steve J]

Not seeing a big difference in fees. Example...a $25 Lady A. ticket is still a $12.50 service charge, I think per ticket. Granted the axis website looks great, you can easily see all priced tickets and where they are. But if everyone thinks they will cut fees a lot, not going to happen.

[Gary Dean]

I just purchased tickets to both nights of the Creed show in Kansas City
My first impression was I was disappointed....I can see no difference with Ticketmaster? If so please tell me what it is?
I read that with AXS, a person could select their seats, and that the price shown would be all inclusive, instead I find that I am paying 13 dollar Service charge and 5 dollar charge to have a ticket mailed to me, since I hate Tickets printed on my printer.
Again I see no difference with Ticketmaster and AXS in fact your more expensive

[Stephanie]

I agree with Gary...I don't really see much of a difference and seems just as pricey to me!