By JOSIE CLARKE consumer reporter
The days of getting into concerts with forged tickets could be over if a machine that sorts out the fake from the genuine arrives here.
The machine, named Pax by its Australian maker, scans the individual barcode already printed on tickets issued by Ticketek. Counterfeit or stolen
tickets, or those that have already been used, will trigger a red light.
Pax is already in use at the turnstiles of every major Australian venue. Ticketek New Zealand hopes to install up to 40 machines at Ericsson Stadium this year and at other major venues in the future.
Ticketek says the machine will make events safer, and has increased paid attendance at venues.
Each machine costs about $5000, but Ticketek New Zealand general manager Ben Unger said they had already proven worthwhile in Australia.
Average attendance at the Sydney Football Stadium went up 10 per cent following the machines' installation.
"That's how many counterfeits were getting in, and others going in and passing their tickets out the gate for someone else to use."
The machine can also track when people arrive and leave during an event.
"To be honest, no one really knows exactly how many people are there at any one time. We can tell how many tickets were sold, but people come and go throughout the day."
More technology introduced at Ticketek lets the agency know within seconds whether a credit-card transaction has been accepted or declined.
