June 22, 2006
ORLANDO -
With the click of a computer mouse, UCF fans now have total control of the ticket-buying process from the convenience of wherever they can connect to the Internet. The UCF Athletics Association has teamed up with Ticketmaster to implement a revolutionary way for Golden Knight fans to purchase tickets.
Ticketmaster's AccountManager enables UCF ticket buyers the flexibility to renew existing accounts and add more seats or become a season-ticket buyer for the first time. AccountManager also provides season ticket holders with the convenience of viewing and paying invoices through their online account, printing tickets directly from their computer and even reselling unused tickets or e-mailing them to friends and family.
"UCF fans have been asking for an online ticket-buying option for some time and we're fortunate to have Ticketmaster, the foremost authority in ticketing, as our authorized ticketing company," said Matt DiFebo, the director of customer sales and service for the UCF Athletics Association. "Our fans got their first taste of purchasing tickets online for the Conference USA Championship game in December and now we have fully integrated that process into our season ticket and single game sales. This is making the purchasing process a lot more convenient than in years past."
At the Conference USA Championship game at the Florida Citrus Bowl, hand-held scanners were used to scan the tickets, which in some cases were printed directly from fans' computers. That same system will be in place this year, which provides the flexibility of what Ticketmaster calls "Ticket Forwarding."
When a season ticket holder e-mails their tickets to someone else through the Ticket Forwarding feature of AccountManager, the system automatically cancels the barcode on the original ticket and issues a new ticket for the recipient, replete with a new, unique barcode, ensuring ticket authenticity. This transfer can take place up to two hours prior to kickoff.
UCF is also introducing a new online marketplace enabling season ticket holders to sell tickets they are unable to use to other fans via TeamExchange. Operated by Ticketmaster, TeamExchange is the only authorized site for the resale of UCF tickets. Safe, secure, and UCFAA-sanctioned, TeamExchange is a feature of the university's new AccountManager system and, as with Ticket Forwarding, when a ticket is sold through TeamExchange, the original ticket's barcode is automatically cancelled and the system issues a new, unique barcode on the new tickets delivered via e-mail.
"It's a great option for our fans in the event something comes up preventing them from going to the game," DiFebo said. "Now, their ticket won't go unused and we will have someone in those seats cheering for UCF."
AccountManager is currently being used by several of Ticketmaster's clients on the professional level, including the NBA World Champion Miami Heat. The system was recently implemented at UCF and the response has been great.
"The feedback we've received so far from the fans is that it is very easy and user-friendly," DiFebo added. "They like the flexibility of paying online and managing their account from their own computer."
UCF has seven home football games scheduled this year and season tickets start as low as $140. Additionally, fans who purchase tickets this year receive priority reservations for the 2007 season in UCF's new on-campus stadium have the option to lock in next year's tickets at this year's price.
In addition to online purchases, UCF fans can buy tickets over the phone by calling (407) UCF-1000.