Ingresse Expands Horizons with Acquisition of Ticket Sports: A New Era for Sports and Entertainment
In a decisive move to diversify its portfolio, Ingresse, one of Brazil’s leading online ticketing platforms, has acquired Ticket Sports. This acquisition marks Ingresse’s entry into the burgeoning market of sports events, a niche that has shown significant growth potential in recent years.
The Strategic Acquisition
Ticket Sports, established in 2015, has positioned itself as the largest platform in Latin America for selling registrations to sports events. These events include high-profile competitions such as the Ironman triathlon and the São Silvestre marathon, one of Brazil’s largest running events. Until now, Ingresse’s primary focus has been on the music industry, facilitating ticket sales for major festivals, concerts, parties, and nightclubs. Recently, however, Ingresse expanded into the football sector, selling tickets for Botafogo matches and VIP suites for clubs like Grêmio, Palmeiras, Santos, Corinthians, and Bahia.
The acquisition of Ticket Sports aligns with Ingresse’s broader strategy to consolidate the ticketing market, a goal invigorated by a R$ 90 million funding round in 2019, led by Endurance, the family office of banking heir Pedro Conde. This is the seventh merger or acquisition (M&A) for Ingresse since its establishment in 2014 by Gabriel Benarrós, with recent additions including BlackTag, IngressoLive, and Virtualticket.
The Market Shift
Gabriel Benarrós highlights a significant market trend towards blending entertainment with health and wellness. "There’s a clear movement towards experiences that combine musical enjoyment with wellness activities," Benarrós told Brazil Journal. He noted that 20% of Ingresse’s customers now prefer events that do not involve alcohol. With the acquisition of Ticket Sports, Ingresse aims to introduce an energetic yet non-toxic approach to sports events, merging the thrill of competition with engaging social experiences.
Founded in 2015, Ticket Sports achieved a Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) of R$ 300 million last year, compared to Ingresse’s R$ 1.2 billion. The projected GMV for Ingresse, incorporating Ticket Sports, is anticipated to reach R$ 2 billion this year. Although Ticket Sports’ profitability is slightly lower, the acquisition is deemed strategically valuable given the growing trend toward healthy entertainment options.
Strengthening the Market Position
Ingresse plans to more than double Ticket Sports’ revenue in the coming years, following the average performance of their previous acquisitions, which saw a 2.4 times revenue increase. "Companies typically grow for two reasons: our technology enables new opportunities, and we offer robust financial support, making our platform highly attractive to event organizers," Benarrós explained.
One of Ingresse’s standout strategies includes providing credit to event organizers through a FIDC (Credit Rights Investment Fund) created several years ago. To date, Ingresse has loaned R$ 70 million to its partner organizers, a unique advantage that strengthens customer loyalty and attracts new clients.
In summary, Ingresse’s acquisition of Ticket Sports represents a forward-thinking expansion into the sports event segment. This strategic move not only diversifies Ingresse’s offerings but also aligns with the contemporary trend of combining entertainment with wellness, catering to a health-conscious consumer base seeking vibrant yet wholesome experiences.
For more information, visit Ingresse’s official website.
