DURHAM -- The Carolina Theatre of Durham has announced a multi-year contract with Ticketmaster to provide sales and marketing services for the historic city-owned Carolina Theatre complex.
"This new partnership opens up a world of opportunities for us in terms of how we market our events and provide service to our customers," said Bob Nocek, who takes over the Carolina as President and CEO on July 1.
The Carolina Theatre will use multiple products from Ticketmaster, including the ARCHTICS ticketing system for all ticketing, development and e-mail marketing services for all three venues -- the 1,015-seat Fletcher Hall and the 276- and 76-seat cinemas.
Nocek cited the relationships between Ticketmaster and the Triangle's other major venues and performing arts organizations as the primary driving force behind the change. In signing with Ticketmaster, the Carolina Theatre joins the region's other major venues including the Durham Performing Arts Center, the Progress Energy Center, the RBC Center, and the Time Warner Pavilion.
"I'm looking forward to having the Carolina Theatre positioned alongside the region's other great venues," he said. "It will increase our visibility, help us better market our events, and sell more tickets."
Tickets for events may now be purchased via five channels: in person at the Carolina Theatre Box Office at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham; by phone through the Carolina Theatre Box Office at (919) 560-3030; by phone through Ticketmaster's toll-free performing arts line at 800-982-2787; online through the Carolina Theatre website at carolinatheatre.org or Ticketmaster's website at ticketmaster.com; and at all Ticketmaster outlets in the Raleigh-Durham area at FYE and Lowes Foods.
The Carolina Theatre's Box Office will continue to sell tickets without any service charge. A nominal service charge will apply to Carolina Theatre phone orders. Service charges through Ticketmaster will vary by event.
"We're continuing to offer ticket buyers the same options as before through our box office, but with additional choices and conveniences through Ticketmaster," Nocek said. All events currently on sale are now available via all of these channels.
The change also brings a number of technological advances that are common to other venues but new to the Carolina Theatre. All Carolina Theatre Star Members will have access to personal online accounts where they can purchase advance tickets for Star Series events, forward tickets via e-mail, make donations and fulfill pledges. GroupManager will be available to enable group leaders to more easily bring groups to Carolina Theatre events. And the Carolina Theatre will be able to offer print-at-home ticketing for the first time.
The Carolina Theatre's 2010-2011 Star Series will go on sale to the public July 23. Star Members will receive information shortly about their exclusive purchase opportunity beginning July 19.
