Ticketmaster Sport are proud to have worked with the Ageas Bowl for over five years and are pleased to announce that the home of Hampshire Cricket has chosen to renew their partnership with Ticketmaster Sport.
We caught up with Jonathan Crocker, Chief Commercial Officer at the Ageas Bowl, to find out what his vision is for the future of the venue, club and its fans.
You joined Hampshire Cricket as Chief Commercial Officer in 2017, how has your first season gone?
It has been truly fascinating. I joined just before the start of the T20 season which was exciting enough, but the two concerts and England Internationals which followed combined to make a memorable summer.
Our business at the Ageas Bowl is diverse, with a number of interesting brands. As a commercial department, our goal is to ensure that we get the very best from each of them and from how they all work together. Whilst delivering this with our teams, I am very focused on the medium and long term aims of our business. All in all I am happy with our progress so far. This is a great venue and brand to be part of.
Ticketmaster and the Ageas Bowl have been partners for a number of years, can you tell us why Ticketmaster?
We feel Ticketmaster, as market leader, offer the simplest, most effective solution to ticketing. We’ve had a terrific working relationship over the past five years and look forward to continuing that in the future, whilst introducing a number of industry innovations along the way.
What’s your vision for the club and how is Ticketmaster helping to make that vision possible?
Our company vision is to constantly push boundaries and deliver outstanding experiences. First and foremost we are Hampshire Cricket and want to perform and win at the highest level. We have a rich history of success and this is something that we of course plan to continue. However, filling the ground with happy faces is of equal importance.
Ticketmaster help us to achieve this by making any ticketing transaction as streamlined and frictionless as possible, while its expert support infrastructure and team is on hand to answer any queries our fans may have. As a venue we like to work with great brands, and I consider Ticketmaster to be such.
We’ll be introducing digital ticket delivery via mobile, how important is ‘digital’ to your strategy?
Very. We live in the ‘Digital Age’ and our plans are to lead the way in this regard in our sector. The intelligent use of technology is arguably the most impactful development of the 2018 season. We are implementing an integrated system which will allow our fans and visitors to enjoy a seamless journey.
From the point of awareness, through enhanced match day experience and interaction we are committed to providing the best possible experience for our visitors. Simply being able to gain admission to the venue by using a paperless ticket on your mobile phone is a really good start.
We’re working with your marketing team to develop some content for Minimaster – Ticketmaster’s family brand – how important is engaging with the next generation for Hampshire Cricket and the Ageas Bowl?
We feel it’s our responsibility to ensure that the game is played, followed and enjoyed by as many people as possible. Our passion for cricket is without question, you can feel this when you visit the venue, and engaging with families and young fans has always been a key objective of ours.
From providing free, family-friendly activities such as laser quest, giant inflatables and climbing walls at our matches, to offering highly-subsidised memberships for young cricketers in our pathway system, we’ll always endeavour to make the game of cricket, and our venue, as accessible for families and youngsters as possible.
With the Cricket World Cup 2019 just around the corner, it’s a big year for cricket in general, how will you be capitalising on that?
We will put on the best show possible at the Ageas Bowl. Getting the details right is vital. Getting to and from the ground, the ease of parking, safety, security and the variety, quality and cost of food and beverage options are all massive contributors to a happy crowd.
I believe if we take care of these details, the spectacle of cricket can become the rightful focus. When the world is watching we have the opportunity to showcase our resort as one of the leading places in the UK to stage both cricket and other world-class events.
You mentioned you see the Ageas Bowl as a resort, more than just cricket – can you tell us more?
While the Ageas Bowl may be renowned as a cricketing amphitheatre, our offering far transcends sport. The on-site, 171-bedroom Hilton at the Ageas Bowl hotel boasts a luxury eforea spa, the country’s first BEEFY’S Bar & Restaurant, 18-hole Boundary Lakes Golf Course as well as expansive Ageas Ballroom which can welcome up to 750 delegates on business.
Set in 182 acres, the Ageas Bowl is also home to a specialist sports college, physiotherapy centre, boxing gym, sports bar, American Golf store and practice area while regularly hosting major concerts.
There’s always so much going on, it’s an exciting place to be.
The cricket season is already underway, for tickets and more information visit the Ageas Bowl ticketing site
