Redbox Selling Tickets to Live Events

In a move one analyst called a “Ticketmaster killer,” Redbox kiosks in Philadelphia on Wednesday began selling tickets to live events, and the DVD renter said the service will roll out soon in Los Angeles and possibly other cities.

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The initiative is called Redbox Tickets, and on Wednesday it was selling tickets to such events as a Carrie Underwood concert at the Wells Fargo Center, NASCAR races at Pocono Raceway and Villanova Athletics sporting events.

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Redbox, a unit of Coinstar, said tickets will be sold for face value or cheaper and $1 fee will be added to each one purchased at one of its 650 kiosks in Philadelphia.

The company also rolled out www.Redbox.com/tickets where consumers can purchase online and, depending on the event, print tickets themselves or pick them up at the venue.

New Era Tickets and Sparkart are partners in the endeavor.

A writer at stock-picking outlet Seeking Alpha called it “big news” that Redbox Tickets was positioning itself as the low-cost alternative to Ticketmaster.

“Ticketmaster has a near monopoly on live event ticket sales. They charge ridiculous amounts in fees,” Seeking Alpha wrote in an article called, “Another reason to love Redbox: Ticketmaster Killer.”

A spokesperson for Redbox said the service will come to Los Angeles early next year and, if successful, in other areas after that.