Ticketmaster introduces new system for festival-goers with disabilities
The UK charity Attitude is Everything has found that 83% of music lovers with disabilities are discouraged of buying tickets to live music events due to inaccessible booking systems. Ticketmaster has collaborated with Attitude is Everything to introduce a more accessible online system that allows music fans with disabilities to book tickets with minimal effort. In an interview with the BBC, Ticketmaster’s MD Andrew Parsons said that they have been seeking to address this problem for some time now as they believe that all fans deserve equal access to live entertainment.
Festival-goers can now submit details of their disability on their online profile. Once validated, the information is linked to their profile and readily available for all future transactions. Like with all other tickets, accessible seats will be clearly labelled on the seat map.
Previously, accessible tickets were only available by means of contacting specialist help lines open at set hours. This method is inaccessible for persons with speech and hearing impairments or persons who have difficulty using phones. Ticketmaster mentioned that his method will still be available for those who wish to use it.
The new booking system was soft-launched in October 2019 in two venues in the UK - Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena and Glasgow’s SEC. According to Parsons the feedback has been really positive. More venues in more countries are due to follow in 2020.
Some music festivals have made their own accessible online booking provisions, like the Electric Picnic festival in the Republic of Ireland. They created their own Access Mailing List where festival-goers can apply for access to the facilities they require.
To find the full article, click here.
For more information regarding accessibility at the Electric Picnic music festival, click here.
Alternatively, if you need further information on how to make facilities or services more accessible and inclusive, please do not hesitate to contact one of our team on (01) 415 12 85 or e-mail [email protected].
