Your Event Tickets Are Getting a Big Upgrade in iOS 18
Credit: Ticketmaster
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There’s so much great stuff in iOS 18 that it’s easy to miss some smaller enhancements, especially when they’re changes Apple has made under the hood that require third parties to get on board.
One such enhancement that’s flown under the radar amid all the hype around Apple Intelligence, RCS support, and Home Screen customizations is a new ticket experience in Apple Wallet. It’s a smaller thing that Apple quietly announced in its iOS 18 press release in June, promising “a richer experience for fans” that would allow information like maps of stadiums and other venues and even recommended Apple Music playlists to be included in digital tickets.
Of course, the key word here is “allow.” Apple doesn’t sell tickets, so this was a framework that “participating ticket issuers” would have to take advantage of. Thankfully, it looks like we won’t have to wait long to see the first ones begin showing up, as one of the biggest games in town has just announced it’s on board to embrace Apple’s new digital wallet experience.
In a press release today, Ticketmaster announced that it’s the first to enable enhanced tickets in Apple Wallet and provided some additional details on what’s possible that goes beyond what Apple previously shared about the feature.
Tickets in Apple Wallet now put key event information at fans’ fingertips, such as a map of the venue and parking details, recommended playlists from Apple Music, local forecasts from Weather, and easy access to location sharing to help fans find their friends when they arrive. Venues and teams can further customize the new tickets experience with links to their app or website, making it seamless for their fans to access additional information about their events.Ticketmaster
In addition to featuring fun and unique designs, the new digital tickets will be more interactive. For example, tickets can now include links to purchase merchandise and even support ticket management features from the Ticketmaster app. There will also be links to Apple Maps to get directions to the venue, forecasts provided by Apple Weather, and details about transit, parking, and policies.
Featured Apple Music playlists are also part of the experience, and they’re not just for music concerts. In the announcement, Ticketmaster shows an example of Denis Bouanga’s warm-up playlist that LAFC fans can use to get pumped up before the game.
The new tickets also include built-in location sharing to help your friends find you not only at the venue but in the venue. While it uses the iPhone’s built-in location features, it’s unclear whether it requires the Precision Finding feature of an iPhone 15 or later or links into unique in-venue technology to associate your location with a seating chart or floor plan.
With the new, enhanced ticket in Apple Wallet experience, fans are closer to the action from the moment they add their pass to their iPhone. We’re extremely proud to work with Apple to bring this enhanced ticketing experience to fans.Mark Yovich, President at Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster’s new ticket format is rolling out gradually, so it won’t be available for every event right away. The company says it will debut with the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) beginning with their home game at BMO Stadium next Saturday, October 19, with tickets that can be added from the Ticketmaster app or LAFC team app. It will then come to Miami Heat games next before being made “more widely available in 2025.”
