Another quiet weekend on the wire — most of the freshest available stories from the past few days had already been featured in recent issues, so this issue centers on the two genuinely new items confirmed since (both 21 Aug), rounded out with a shorter “Also in the news” list.
Ticketmaster says it “recovered” Olivia Rodrigo tickets from scalpers, will re-list them at face value
Ticketmaster said tickets for Olivia Rodrigo’s “The Unraveled Tour” that broke the rules of sale are being pulled back from resellers and released directly to fans at the tour’s original prices, with a request window that closed August 21 and status updates going out August 28. The move follows criticism earlier this year over the tour’s presale pricing, which topped $800 on some floor seats.
↪ menta: Ticketmaster policing its own primary sale and clawing back scalped inventory underscores demand for a controlled channel where recovered tickets can be resold safely inside the platform — the exact function menta’s resale engine performs for its ticketing partners.
Read full story →
Top stories
#WhoTicketsWho? Premier League ticketing splits exactly 10-10 between SeatGeek and Ticketmaster Sport for 2026-27
New analysis from independent consultant Jonathan Buck shows every Premier League club now runs on one of just two primary ticketing systems, with SeatGeek and Ticketmaster Sport each supplying 10 clubs this season — a shift from last season’s 11-9 split driven purely by promotion and relegation. The analysis notes that supplier competition is increasingly decided by broader commercial value rather than technology alone.
↪ menta: A ticketing market this concentrated among two suppliers means menta’s resale infrastructure needs to work cleanly with both SeatGeek and Ticketmaster Sport stacks to reach the full breadth of Premier League clubs through partner integrations.
Read full story →
LA28 tops six million tickets sold, confirms verified resale programme launching in 2027
LA28 organisers said more than six million tickets have been sold across two presale drops, with purchase limits being lifted for the next sales window in 2027. Alongside general on-sale for the 2028 Paralympic Games, LA28 confirmed its own verified resale programme will also launch next year.
↪ menta: A marquee event the size of the Olympics building an official verified resale channel is the clearest possible validation of menta’s model — controlled, in-platform resale instead of ceding that volume to external marketplaces.
Read full story →
Also in the news
Sports · Expansion
Boston Bruins to play two 2027 NHL Global Series games in Munich
The Original Six franchise will bring regular-season hockey to Munich’s SAP Garden for the first time, with dates and ticketing details still to come.
Venues · North America
HISTORY Ottawa opens new 2,000-capacity concert venue downtown
The Live Nation Canada venue at 47 Rideau Street in the ByWard Market expects more than 200 events in its first year, with Houndmouth, KALEO and UB40 among the acts already on sale.
Live Music · Discovery
TikTok revives Music on Stage competition with an All Things Go festival slot on offer
The 2026 edition adds a partnership with All Things Go Music Festival, giving one emerging artist a shot at performing the festival’s New York edition in September.
Broadway · Casting
Bradley Jaden to make his Broadway debut in “Wanted”
The West End actor joins the musical, formerly known as “Gun & Powder,” ahead of previews starting October 15 at the James Earl Jones Theatre.
Touring · On Sale
Foo Fighters added as special guests for AC/DC’s St. Louis stadium show
The one-off September 8 pairing fills in for The Pretty Reckless at The Dome at America’s Center, during a break in Foo Fighters’ own stadium tour.
#118
23 Aug 2026
Ticketmaster recovers scalped Olivia Rodrigo tickets, Premier League ticketing splits 10-10 between SeatGeek and Ticketmaster Sport, and LA28 tops six million tickets sold with a verified resale programme confirmed for 2027
8 stories
Secondary Market · EnforcementTicketmaster recovers Rodrigo tickets from scalpersRecovered “Unraveled Tour” tickets re-listed at face value for fans.
Ticketing Tech · Market StructurePremier League ticketing splits 10-10SeatGeek and Ticketmaster Sport now share the division exactly evenly for 2026-27.
Sports · Secondary MarketLA28 tops six million tickets soldVerified resale programme confirmed to launch alongside 2027 on-sale.
AlsoIn brief Boston Bruins to play 2027 NHL Global Series games in Munich; HISTORY Ottawa opens a new 2,000-capacity downtown venue; TikTok revives Music on Stage with an All Things Go festival slot; Bradley Jaden makes his Broadway debut in “Wanted”; Foo Fighters join AC/DC for a one-off St. Louis show.
#117
22 Aug 2026
AudienceView builds H1 2026 momentum with the Audience Republic and Saffire acquisitions as Ticketplus enters a post-IPO growth chapter, US Open secondary prices soar, TUI Musement adds 250,000 live events via EVENTIM, and DICE marks a year of US expansion under Fever
9 stories
Ticketing Tech · Platform ExpansionAudienceView builds H1 2026 momentumAudience Republic and Saffire acquisitions plus new partners across performing arts, education and festivals.
Finance · IPOTicketplus enters “exciting new chapter”Post-IPO H1 2026 results beat all of 2025, net profit up 151% YoY.
Secondary Market · SportsUS Open secondary prices soarResale prices climb sharply as the tournament’s final week approaches.
Distribution · PartnershipsTUI Musement × EVENTIM250,000 live events added to TUI’s experiences portfolio across Germany and the UK.
Expansion · US VenuesDICE touts US venue waveNew Brooklyn, Miami and promoter deals mark a year of growth since joining Fever.
AlsoIn brief Vivenu and Paciolan land new US college athletics deals (Alaska Fairbanks, East Tennessee State); Tickets for Good partners with the Union Jack Classic for Wembley’s first college football game; Noah Kahan announces “Last Of The Bugs” presale dates; Dave Matthews Band’s Fall Tour general on-sale opens for its MSG finale.
#116
21 Aug 2026
StubHub and viagogo plug into Spektrix’s 800+ arts venues, the German Bundesliga wins its Viagogo lawsuit, Spurs threaten resale-related account cancellations, Ticketmaster’s Quicket debuts in Kenya and Uganda, and Tickadoo returns to UK theatre ticketing with a BritishTheatre.com acquisition
10 stories
Resale · Marketplace DistributionStubHub, viagogo integrate with SpektrixDual-broadcast deal reaches 800+ arts and culture venues with no exclusivity or added cost.
Legal · Secondary MarketBundesliga defeats Viagogo in courtMunich court finds Viagogo’s pricing and availability claims misleading after years of litigation.
Resale · EnforcementSpurs threaten season-ticket cancellationsMembership update warns against unauthorized resale without defining the violation threshold.
Expansion · AfricaTicketmaster/Quicket enter Kenya, UgandaMobile-money integrations and global distribution back East African rollout.
M&A · TheatreTickadoo acquires BritishTheatre.comLondon Theatre Direct co-founder returns to UK theatre ticketing with a review-site acquisition.
AlsoIn brief The O2 reports 35% of Ariana Grande residency buyers are overseas; Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rico finale draws 1M+ to the queue; LA28 marks two years to the Paralympic Games; Calle 24 cancels seven U.S. dates after a visa revocation; Lincoln City FC taps Oak View Group for stadium hospitality.
#115
20 Aug 2026
Arsenal bans 19,000 touting accounts as its Ticket Exchange handles 156,000 resale sales, the Philippines opens a concert-ticketing market study, DICE signs five US independent venues, and Aftershock tops the decade’s festival price-inflation ranking
11 stories
Resale · Fraud PreventionArsenal bans 19,000 accountsOfficial Ticket Exchange processed 156,000 resale purchases in 2025-26 as club enforcement continues.
RegulationPhilippine Competition Commission opens ticketing market studyConsumer survey through Nov 30 probes platform choice, fees and resale behaviour.
PartnershipsDICE signs five independent US venues and promotersNew York, Seattle and Miami operators join the network after a record year with Fever.
PricingAftershock tops decade-long festival price-inflation rankingGA price up 264% since 2015 to $235, ahead of Hinterland and Louder Than Life.
ExpansionLine-Up expands into AustraliaFirst local hire, Cam Tegg, leads client success as the platform builds an APAC presence.
AlsoIn brief Boardmasters draws 158,000 fans and confirms 2027 return; Rocklahoma reveals 20th-anniversary set times; Ricky Martin to headline NFL Rio halftime; Neil Young & Willie Nelson co-headline Philly/Bridgeport shows; Bad Bunny closes his World Tour in San Juan; Heathers The Musical adds cast ahead of its Nov 8 close.
#114
19 Aug 2026
KKR invests in BookMyShow at up to an $833M valuation as Blue Note London signs Ticketmaster, IHG One Rewards partners with Live Nation Asia, and Live Nation settles its Luke Bryan concert brain-injury lawsuit
9 stories
Finance · M&AKKR invests in BookMyShow~6% stake for $40–50m values the Indian ticketing and live-entertainment platform at up to $833m.
Fraud PreventionBlue Note London signs TicketmasterSafeTix dynamic barcodes secure entry for its first UK jazz club, opening Sep 23.
PartnershipsIHG One Rewards × Live Nation AsiaLoyalty tie-up bundles IHG stays with concerts in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
AI · DiscoveryFever joins Google GeminiEvents now surface inside Gemini as a connected app (17 Aug).
LegalLive Nation settles Luke Bryan brain-injury lawsuitTerms undisclosed after Hartford concert-fight case was set for trial (17 Aug).
AlsoIn brief Qatar Airways Holidays launches F1 travel packages; Dijon FCO’s NFC scarves double as stadium entry; Swim Up Hill named LA28 ticket-donation recipient; TheTicketingBusiness marks its 1,000th newsletter.
#111
14 Aug 2026
California shelves its AB 1720 resale price-cap bill as Spektrix adds StubHub and TicketNetwork as resale partners, the Australian Grand Prix renews its Ticketmaster deal, and Tix Africa launches in the UK
8 stories
RegulationCalifornia Senate shelves AB 1720 resale price-cap billNarrower AB 1349, targeting bots and speculative listings, advances to the Senate floor instead.
Venue TechSpektrix signs StubHub, TicketNetwork and Make a RezzySkippio also goes live at Dublin’s RDS Laya Arena; Gigantic Tickets signs Cwmbran Celtic AFC.
MotorsportAustralian Grand Prix renews multi-year Ticketmaster deal13-year partnership continues after a fifth straight attendance record in March.
ExpansionTix Africa launches in the UKNigeria-founded platform follows diaspora organisers already producing events in London and Manchester.
FinanceStubHub Q2 2026: revenue up 33% to $573m, still narrowly unprofitableGMS climbs 34% to $3.1bn on World Cup demand; company still faces a resale-delivery class action.
AlsoBurgas to host 2027 Eurovision; Ticketmaster tickets now discoverable via Gemini; Jonas Brothers to headline NFL Melbourne halftime; Global Citizen Festival lineup revealedBulgaria’s first Eurovision, AI-driven ticket discovery, and fall festival calendar news.
#110
13 Aug 2026
AXS becomes exclusive fan-to-fan resale partner for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as California’s AB 1720 resale price-cap bill faces a critical Senate vote and the Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix opens single-day sales
7 stories
Fan-to-Fan ResaleAXS named exclusive primary and secondary partner for Wrangler NFROfficial Fan-to-Fan Ticket Marketplace launches as general public onsale opens today.
RegulationCalifornia’s AB 1720 resale price-cap bill faces make-or-break voteSenate Appropriations Committee expected to release or hold the 10%-cap bill today.
MotorsportF1 Las Vegas Grand Prix opens single-day ticket sales at $81General onsale follows an Amex presale ahead of the Nov 19–21 race.
AlsoPeople moves at Ticketmaster, TicketSwap and Laylo; thumpN partners with All About Music X; Nottingham Forest hires ticketing execEMEA and APAC personnel and partnership roundup.
Upcoming
21–25 Sep 2026
Gateway Ticketing Summit Barcelona Upcoming
Barcelona
Attractions & venue ticketing operators — EU pipeline for integrated resale.
26 Sep–1 Oct 2026
Gateway Ticketing Summit Portland Upcoming
Portland
US attractions ticketing summit; adjacent operators for menta’s resale layer.
Past
27–29 Jul 2026
World Ticket Conference Past
New Orleans
Premier US ticketing operator gathering; wrapped its third and final day on 29 Jul, a high-priority venue for menta partnership conversations.
11 Jun–19 Jul 2026
FIFA World Cup 2026 Past
USA / Canada / Mexico
Concluded 19 Jul with Spain 1–0 Argentina at MetLife — the most expensive U.S. sporting event ever and the year’s largest live test of official vs. external resale.
7–10 Jun 2026
NIVA ’26 Past
Minneapolis
Independent venues & promoters — natural adopters of fan-friendly, capped resale.
7–10 Jun 2026
NACDA & Affiliates Convention Past
Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas
College athletics administrators — sports ticketing & resale relevant for university partners.
27–29 Apr 2026
The Ticketing Business Forum (TBF26) Past
Manchester
Flagship ticketing industry forum — key menta networking & partner-sourcing event.
14–16 Apr 2026
Pollstar Live! Past
Los Angeles
Touring & live-industry leadership gathering — strong signal on artist/promoter resale sentiment.
23–25 Mar 2026
Ticketing Professionals Conference Past
Manchester
Operator-level ticketing conference — good technical-integration pipeline.
17–18 Mar 2026
Transport Ticketing Global Past
Olympia London
Adjacent ticketing vertical — limited direct relevance but useful market signal.