Lancashire CC hit counterfeiters for six with new blockchain ticketing

Yesterday I bought tickets for Day 2 of England's test match against Pakistan at Old Trafford. Very exciting, especially considering we will be sitting in the 'Foster's Party Stand'; who doesn't love a party? 

However, potentially even more exciting was the actual process of buying the tickets. Bear with me.  

Firstly, I was offered a 3D view from my potential seat. A innovative technology provided by Pacifa Decision to ensure my view wasn't going to be obstructed by a pesky column or rogue big screen. 

Then, on choosing how I wanted the tickets delivered, I had three options: 

1) Delivered (costing extra)

2) A printable PDF (costing extra)

3) TIXnGO app (free) 

"What is TIXnGO" I hear you shout. It is a blockchain mobile ticket platform being used by Lancashire Cricket Club this season. Lancashire CC are leveraging the decentralized, immutable and transparent nature of the blockchain to combat the traditional problems posed by ticketing in the sports industry:

• As each ticket is unique and traceable, the risk of counterfeit tickets being used to gain entry into the ground is removed; 
• A mobile app makes transferring tickets across primary and secondary markets simple; 
• The re-sale of tickets is controlled preventing unscrupulous 'fans' making profits by selling tickets at grossly over-inflated prices.  

The blockchain has often been disparaged as a solution looking for a problem. However, Lancashire CC's implementation of TIXnGO provides yet further evidence such a characterisation is unfounded. 

A report by the FanFair Alliance highlights consumers are worried about ticket-touting, secondary ticketing and re-selling at an overvalue. A blockchain ticketing solution allays these concerns.  

UEFA have already shown interest in the blockchain, delivering all the tickets for the UEFA Super Cup Final in 2018 using a blockchain based mobile app and selling all VIP tickets to Euro 2020 using the Ethereum blockchain. 

Could blockchain ticketing be the future ? I suspect so. And I'm looking forward to watching Joe Root and co this August in the very first 'Blockchain Test Match'.