Memorial Gardens ticket-buying is about to get easier

Sault Memorial Gardens is about to become one of the last Ontario Hockey League facilities to install a computerized ticketing system.

During its recent budget deliberations, City Council approved $80,000 to computerize the Gardens box office.

Council will be asked on Monday night to approve purchase of the hardware and software for the project.

"Soo Greyhound fans will be able to purchase tickets for any regular-season game in a single transaction on any day," says Nick Apostle, the City's commissioner of community services.

"Currently, only a few games are available for sale at one time due to limitations of the present ticketing system," Apostle says.

Will save $8,000-$10,000 a year

The new technology is expected to save the City between $8,000 and $10,000 a year, and can be easily installed in a new building if the City decides to replace the Gardens with a new structure.

At present, Apostle says, promoters must wait up to three weeks after booking the Gardens before tickets can be sold.

"The reason for this is that tickets need to be ordered, shipped and checked before they can go on sale," he says.

"This is a problem for promoters who often announce a tour of several cities and expect to put tickets on sale almost immediately to take advantage of the publicity a tour announcement gets.

"With a computerized ticketing system, tickets can be put on sale as soon as the event is confirmed," Apostle says.

System currently used by University of Western Ontario

Apostle is recommending the City install a Proceed Admission System from Procedium Software Corp. of Richmond, B.C.

The software is currently used by the Crystal Centre in Grand Prairie, Alberta and by the University of Western Ontario Mustangs sports teams.

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