America Online today will launch a new site, "Ticket Marketplace," where consumers can purchase tickets to live shows, including events that are officially sold out. The site, which will be open to
the Web and reside within AOL's CityGuide section, will offer tickets from both primary marketers, such as Ticket Master and Tickets.com, and the re-sellers StubHub.com and TicketsNow.com. StubHub.com
operates on a peer-to-peer model, connecting individual buyers with sellers; TicketsNow.com is mainly a collection of brokers. AOL will share revenue from ticket sales with the marketers. For
consumers looking to purchase tickets to sold-out sports, music or theater shows, re-sellers are often the only option, said Geno Yoham, executive director, AOL Tickets. "It's definitely a way to buy
a ticket for sold-out events or for front row seats," he said.
--Wendy Davis
