Chelsea FC Partners with Ticketmaster to Launch Digital Ticketing Strategy for 2025/26 Season.

Roger Hampel

Photo Credit: Chelsea Football Club

Chelsea Football Club has signed a multi-year agreement with Ticketmaster, naming the global ticketing company as its Official Ticketing Partner. The deal signals a major operational shift as Chelsea prepares to adopt a digital-first ticketing system starting with the 2025/26 season, aiming to streamline access, improve security, and reduce ticket resale fraud.

This partnership represents a strategic upgrade to Chelsea’s matchday operations, aligning the club with best-in-class ticketing infrastructure already used by leading sports venues worldwide.

Digital Transformation at Stamford Bridge Chelsea Ticketmaster

Under the new partnership, digital tickets will be rolled out for all fixtures at Stamford Bridge, replacing physical ticket formats and offering fans a more efficient and secure access system. This move is also designed to curb ticket touting, a long-standing issue in top-flight football, by using Ticketmaster’s secure and traceable digital delivery infrastructure.

Chelsea’s shift mirrors a broader industry move toward contactless, mobile-first stadium entry, increasingly common among Premier League and UEFA competitions, particularly following COVID-era digital adoption acceleration.

Operational Efficiency and Fan-Centric Innovation

The collaboration will give Chelsea access to Ticketmaster’s suite of tools for clubs, including:

• Seamless mobile ticket delivery

• Anti-touting mechanisms

• Scalable event ticketing for high-demand matches

• Real-time ticket validation and fan data insights

  
  

Casper Stylsvig, Chelsea FC’s Chief Revenue Officer, commented on the announcement:

"Partnering with a leading force in the industry brings significant value to our operations, ensuring we offer our fans a smoother, safer experience with best-in-class products, while continuing to address the issue of ticket touts."

A Commercial Move with Global Implications

As one of the most recognized football brands in the world, Chelsea’s adoption of Ticketmaster’s platform reinforces the club’s commitment to modernizing fan engagement infrastructure.

Chris Gratton, Managing Director at Ticketmaster Sport, added:

"Chelsea FC is one of the biggest clubs in football, and we’re excited to be part of their journey. Our goal is to make ticketing as simple as possible for fans."

The move also comes at a time when ticketing is becoming increasingly central to fan data strategies, with clubs using ticketing platforms to connect matchday attendance with digital marketing, CRM, and loyalty programs.