Dunedin-based Ticket Rocket enters receivership

The impact of the Coronavirus on live events has seen Dunedin-based Ticket Rocket go into receivership with New Zealand’s High Court freezing the company’s assets.

Entering receivership on Monday, Fortress Information Systems Limited, which also traded as Ticket Rocket and formerly TicketDirect, as well as Dash Tickets, and which had been providing ticketing services for a number of sporting organisations and venues since the late 1990s, had reportedly been facing problems for some months.

At the start of the year four of New Zealand's Super Rugby franchises used the company's ticketing services but all had ended their links with the company following New Zealand’s first nationwide lockdown.

In June, the New Zealand Herald reported that the Hurricanes Super Rugby franchise had called in Police in a dispute over $200,000 that Ticket Rocket had apparently not refunded to ticket holders for cancelled games dating back to February.

Canadian-based Matthew Davey, Ticket Rocket’s sole Director had also been a Director and major shareholder in the Highlanders Super Rugby franchise from 2016. He is understood to have resigned from the board in April and to have also reduced his shareholding.

It has also been reported in Davey’s native Canada that Ticket Rocket owes at least CD$200,000 for events in the City of Moose Jaw, apparently not refunding customers who purchased tickets for ice hockey games and concerts in March.

Other reports suggest that the Hurricanes are owed $200,000, a not-for-profit youth theatre is owed $15,000 and an entertainment group $25,000.

The Ticket Rocket website is currently still offering tickets for events but advises that it went into receivership at 9:30 am on 31st August

The message on the website reads “all post-receivership ticket receipts through the websites are protected so that customers get a valid ticket or their money refunded. Any transaction through this website is strictly on the basis that the receivers do not accept any personal liability for the obligations of the companies in receivership.”

BDO Christchurch is managing the receivership.

Images: Ticket Rocket’s office in Dunedin (top) and its most recent branding (below).