Pollstar (09/11/20) Gottfried, Gideon

Germany's DEAG and CTS Eventim have announced adjustments to their ticketing systems to accommodate distancing mandates currently in place worldwide, with the German ban on large events extended until year's end. Both firms rolled out algorithms that automatically suggest seats to buyers that have the necessary distance to other guests, while still allowing them to manually select seats. Promoters also can track attendees after events, with DEAG's MyTicket system offering ticket personalization options that can be used for contact tracing. Questionnaires can be tweaked by promoters in alignment with changing government requirements, and the system allows for the establishment of different time slots to regulate visitor flow. Meanwhile, CTS Eventim's new Eventim.CheckIn software allows visitors to have their personal data recorded from their mobile phone, either ahead of time or directly at admission. Their personal details are stored on company servers and later erased in accordance with data protection mandates. CTS Eventim also has been using personalized tickets, and the company said both variants "ensure that if any coronavirus infections occur in connection with an event, the contact data of all the visitors potentially affected is rapidly transmitted electronically to the local health authority — without having to comb through innumerable forms filled in by hand, with all the proneness to error that involves."

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