Ticketron
Ticketron was a pioneering computerized event-ticketing company that operated in the United States and Canada from the 1960s until the sale of most of its business in 1990.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Ticketron was the trading name of Ticket Reservations Systems, Inc. (TRS), an early computerized ticketing company founded in the United States during the 1960s. The business developed an electronic box-office network that allowed tickets for concerts, sporting events, theaters, and other public attractions to be sold through terminals located outside the venue itself. Its systems were designed to maintain centralized inventory records and prevent the same seat from being sold more than once, an important technical and operational advance over manually managed box offices. TRS was incorporated on May 4, 1965, and was based in New York. It was financed by Cemp Investments, the investment company associated with Edgar Bronfman Sr. The company hired Jack Quinn as president and began selling tickets in May 1967 through six Alexander's department-store locations in New York and New Jersey. Its initial platform used a duplexed Control Data Corporation CDC 1700 computer system, with terminal equipment supplied by Computer Applications, Inc. The company described its terminals as electronic box offices. A separate business using the Ticketron name was established in Fort Lee, New Jersey, in 1967. That company's computerized ticketing trial was unsuccessful and it later ceased operations. TRS acquired the name and began applying Ticketron to its own service in July 1969. The core computer installation was located at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and used paired computers, backup power, and redundancy intended to support continuous service. Terminals were subsequently placed in publicly accessible venues such as banks and department stores, expanding ticket purchasing beyond individual theaters or arenas. Ownership changed significantly as the business grew. In 1969, Control Data Corporation acquired 51 percent of TRS for $3.9 million, while Bronfman and his family retained a minority interest. Thomas W. Moore, a former president of the ABC television network, became chairman. After the collapse of the competing Computicket service in 1970, Ticketron became the only computerized ticketing service operating nationally in the United States for a period. Control Data acquired the remaining Cemp Investment interest in 1973 and became Ticketron's sole owner. Ticketron added telephone ticket sales in 1979, extending its distribution model beyond physical terminals. The company also supplied ticketing terminals and back-end systems for parimutuel betting and supported several state lottery operations, including systems associated with New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington, and Maryland. By the middle of the 1980s, the network had approximately 600 outlets across 22 U.S. states and Canada. In 1990, it operated about 750 outlets and held an estimated 40 percent share of the ticketing market, behind Ticketmaster, which held an estimated 50 percent share. Most of Ticketron's assets and operating business were sold in 1990. The transaction included a limited antitrust-related carve-out for the Shubert Organization's Telecharge business, which primarily served Broadway theaters. The Carlyle Group acquired the majority of the business and sold it to Ticketmaster the following year. The original Ticketron operation therefore ended as an independent company, while its name was later revived for an online ticketing service after Ticketmaster sold the brand name in 2017. The historical Ticketron is best understood as a predecessor in the development of networked ticket distribution rather than as a continuing independent ticketing operator.
History
Ticket Reservations Systems, Inc. was incorporated in New York on May 4, 1965, with financing from Cemp Investments, headed by Edgar Bronfman Sr. The company recruited Jack Quinn as president and began commercial ticket sales in May 1967 through six Alexander's stores in New York and New Jersey. Its initial system combined a duplexed Control Data CDC 1700 computer with terminal equipment supplied by Computer Applications, Inc. The company presented the terminals as electronic box offices, allowing customers to purchase tickets away from the venue while the central system tracked available seats. The Ticketron name initially belonged to a separate company founded in Fort Lee, New Jersey, in 1967. That venture tested a computerized ticketing system during the summer but failed later the same year. Ticket Reservations Systems acquired the name and adopted it for its own service in July 1969. The company's principal computer installation was located on the first floor of the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where the paired computers provided a live system and backup capacity. Backup generators in the basement supported continuity of service. A central feature of the design was the prevention of duplicate sales for a particular seat. Ticketron expanded the terminal network into public locations, including banks and department stores. In 1969, Control Data Corporation bought 51 percent of the company for $3.9 million. Edgar Bronfman Sr. and his family retained a 25 percent interest, and Thomas W. Moore, formerly president of ABC television, became chairman. When Computer Sciences Corporation's competing Computicket service folded in April 1970, Ticketron became the sole computerized ticketing service in the United States. Control Data purchased Cemp Investment's remaining interest in 1973, making it Ticketron's sole owner. The company's activities extended beyond conventional event reservations. Ticketron supplied terminals and supporting infrastructure for parimutuel betting and worked with multiple state lottery systems, including those in New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington, and Maryland. In 1979, it added telephone ticket sales, complementing its physical-terminal distribution network. By the mid-1980s, Ticketron had approximately 600 outlets in 22 states and Canada. By 1990, the network had grown to about 750 outlets, but its market share had fallen behind Ticketmaster. Ticketron was estimated to hold 40 percent of the market, compared with 50 percent for Ticketmaster, which had been established in 1976. In 1990, most of Ticketron's assets and operating business were sold to The Carlyle Group. A small antitrust-related exception was made for the Shubert Organization's Telecharge unit, which largely handled Broadway theater ticketing. The Carlyle Group sold the acquired business to Ticketmaster in 1991. The sale ended Ticketron's independent operation as the major historical computerized ticketing company. The name was later revived in 2017 for an online service after Ticketmaster sold the brand name. The original company's importance lies in its early integration of centralized computing, distributed retail terminals, telephone ordering, and event-seat inventory management.
- 2017
Brand name revived online
[1]The Ticketron name was revived for an online ticketing service after Ticketmaster sold the brand name.
- 1991
Business transferred to Ticketmaster
[1]The Carlyle Group sold the acquired Ticketron business to Ticketmaster.
- 1990
Independent Ticketron operation sold
[1]The majority of Ticketron's assets and business were sold to The Carlyle Group, subject to a limited Telecharge carve-out.
- 1979
Telephone ticket sales introduced
[1]Ticketron began selling tickets by telephone.
- 1973
Control Data becomes sole owner
[1]Control Data Corporation bought out Cemp Investment and assumed full ownership of Ticketron.
- 1970
Computicket exits the market
[1]The collapse of Computicket left Ticketron as the sole computerized ticketing service in the United States.
- 1969
Ticketron name adopted
[1]After acquiring the name from an unsuccessful earlier venture, Ticket Reservations Systems began using Ticketron for its service in July.
- 1969
Control Data takes a majority stake
[1]Control Data Corporation acquired 51 percent of the company for $3.9 million.
- 1967
Commercial ticketing begins
[1]The company began selling tickets through six Alexander's stores in New York and New Jersey using a computerized CDC 1700 system.
- 1965
Ticket Reservations Systems, Inc. incorporated
[1]Ticket Reservations Systems, Inc. was incorporated in New York on May 4, 1965, with backing from Cemp Investments.
Products and positioning
A technology-led, centralized ticket-distribution network that brought computerized seat inventory and remote ticket purchasing to event venues, retail outlets, banks, and telephone customers.
Event ticketing system · 1967
Ticketron electronic box-office network
Ticketron's principal offering was a computerized event-ticketing network connecting centralized computers with remote terminals. The system enabled customers to purchase tickets through department stores, banks, and other public locations rather than visiting the venue's box office. Its inventory controls were designed to ensure that an individual seat could not be sold more than once. The network supported tickets for a range of public events and helped establish the distributed electronic ticketing model later used by larger industry platforms.
Remote ticket distribution · 1979
Telephone ticket sales
Introduced in 1979, Ticketron's telephone service extended its reservation network beyond physical terminals. Customers could order tickets remotely while Ticketron's centralized systems handled inventory and reservation records. The service complemented the company's retail-terminal footprint and represented an additional access channel before widespread consumer internet use.
Transaction and wagering systems
Parimutuel betting and lottery infrastructure
Ticketron also supplied terminals and back-end infrastructure for parimutuel betting and supported lottery operations for several U.S. states. Reported state deployments included New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington, and Maryland. These systems broadened the company's technology role beyond entertainment ticketing into other high-volume, controlled transaction environments.
Brand decisions
1990
Sell most assets and operating businessM&ABackground
By 1990, Ticketron remained a substantial ticketing network but had fallen behind Ticketmaster in market share.
Action taken
Most Ticketron assets and business were sold to The Carlyle Group, with a limited antitrust-related exception for the Shubert Organization's Telecharge unit.
Aftermath
The Carlyle Group sold the acquired business to Ticketmaster in 1991, ending Ticketron's independent operation.
- Ticketmaster — Ticketmaster acquired the Ticketron business from The Carlyle Group in 1991.
1979
Add telephone ticket salesProduct launchBackground
Ticketron had developed a network of physical ticket terminals but needed additional ways for customers to access its service.
Action taken
The company began selling tickets by telephone.
Aftermath
Telephone ordering became an additional distribution channel alongside terminals in stores, banks, and other public locations.
1969
Sell a controlling interest to Control Data CorporationM&ABackground
Ticketron required substantial computing and network infrastructure as it expanded its electronic box-office model.
Action taken
Control Data Corporation acquired 51 percent of Ticket Reservations Systems for $3.9 million, while the Bronfman family retained a minority interest.
Aftermath
Control Data later bought the remaining Cemp Investment interest in 1973 and became Ticketron's sole owner.
Purchase price for 51 percent stake. $3.9 million (1969)
Recent events
- 2017
Ticketron name revived for an online ticket service[1]
Product launch
The Ticketron name was revived for Ticketron.com after Ticketmaster sold the brand name.
- 1991
Ticketron business sold to Ticketmaster[1]
M&A
The Carlyle Group subsequently sold the acquired Ticketron business to rival Ticketmaster.
- 1990
Majority of Ticketron assets and business sold[1]
M&A · Other
Most of Ticketron's assets and business were sold to The Carlyle Group, with a limited carve-out for the Shubert Organization's Telecharge operation.
- 1979
Ticketron adds telephone ticket sales[1]
Product launch
Ticketron expanded its distribution system by beginning to sell tickets by telephone.
- 1969
Control Data Corporation acquires majority stake in Ticket Reservations Systems[1]
M&A
Control Data Corporation purchased 51 percent of Ticket Reservations Systems for $3.9 million, while the Bronfman family retained a minority interest.
Sources1 sources
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