Behind the Scenes of Ticketing: Insights from Kaizen’s Managing Director, David Lynam

In this episode of the Business as a Football podcast, David has an insightful conversation with David Lynam the founder and managing director of Kaizen Ticketing, who shares insights from his extensive career in the ticketing industry. With experience at prestigious venues like Wembley Stadium and involvement in major events such as the London Olympics and Euro 2012, David discusses the evolution of ticketing, particularly at non-league clubs, and how technology has transformed the way clubs engage with their audiences. David reflects on the challenges and lessons learned from his early days in ticketing, including the importance of adaptability and innovation in generating revenue.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Evolution of Ticketing: The ticketing industry has significantly evolved over the past decade, with clubs recognizing the importance of online sales and audience engagement. Learning from Non-League Clubs: Starting with non-league clubs provided a low-risk environment to test and develop ticketing systems. Importance of Customer Relationships: Building strong relationships with clubs and understanding their unique challenges is crucial. Operational Challenges: Transitioning to a new ticketing system can be fraught with challenges, particularly during busy periods like season ticket renewals. Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Observing and analyzing various ticketing systems and online purchasing experiences can provide valuable insights for improvement.   BEST MOMENTS "We had the idea initially when we looked at, you know, let's build a ticketing system. I started in non-league... it was a bit of a test." "Clubs really see the value of having an audience that you can contact and speak to... so commercially clubs have got a lot more savvy." "If you're seriously in ticketing and you've not been involved in something that's been labelled a shambles, then you haven't really been in ticketing." "You learn to just look for ideas... if you're just looking at other ticketing systems for ideas, I'm kind of missing the point." "If you can get that bit right, your season is absolutely straightforward. If you get it wrong, then the season just becomes a bit of a slug."   GUEST BACKGROUND David started his career as part of the Wembley Stadium Ticket Office as a Senior Ticketing Assistant before working at the FA for 5 years as the senior Ticketing Manager where he led operations on the FA Cup Finals, FA Vase & FA Trophy Finals & all England matches when they were travelling across the country for matches at International Friendlies. He then went on to work at Tottenham Hotspur, Ticketmaster where his role included being the Technical Account Manager for London 2012 & Euro 2012. He founded his ticketing agency that assists over 40+ clubs across the EFL & Non-League with their ticketing operations becoming one of the fastest-growing ticket brands within the UK.   OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessoffootballpodcast/ Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoffootball   HOST BIO Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetize & scale their brands for their business & professional gains.