- SI Tickets has migrated its NFT ticketing platform, Box Office, from Polygon to the Avalanche blockchain
- The partnership with Ava Labs aims to enhance ticketing experiences through blockchain technology
- Box Office has issued over 300,000 tickets since its launch in May 2023
Sports Illustrated’s ticketing division, SI Tickets, has transitioned its NFT platform, Box Office, from Polygon to Avalanche. This move with Ava Labs seeks to leverage Avalanche’s blockchain capabilities to “enhance the overall ticketing experience for event hosts and their guests” as well as unlocking “a new universe of NFT possibilities.” Since its inception in May 2023, Box Office has distributed more than 300,000 tickets through the blockchain, and s eyeing even more growth following its transition.
Make Tickets Great Again
SI Tickets announced the planned migration of Box Office to the Avalanche blockchain in February, aiming to utilize its speed and security for minting NFT tickets. David Lane, CEO of SI Tickets, emphasized at the time that traditional tickets often become “useless” post-event, whereas NFT tickets can offer ongoing engagement opportunities between event organizers and attendees.
Box Office provides a comprehensive event management platform, offering features like NFT videos, exclusive offers, and loyalty benefits. These elements aim to foster deeper connections between hosts and attendees before, during, and after events. John Nahas, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Ava Labs, noted that “Avalanche NFTs simply make events and ticketing better for all parties, both organizers and attendees.”
A Wider Trend
In its press release, Avalanche stated that the shift reflects a growing trend of integrating blockchain technology into ticketing systems, reporting that other platforms, such as South Korea’s Dreamus, have also adopted Avalanche to enhance their ticketing processes.
Avalanche has enjoyed partnerships in other areas in 2024, including a headline-grabbing linkup with The California Department of Motor Vehicles to put 42 million car titles on its network. Shortly afterwards, Grayscale added an Avalanche Trust, showing greater faith in the protocol.