The Ticket Factory
The Ticket Factory, previously known as the NEC Box Office, is a primary ticket sales and distribution company based in the United Kingdom. The Ticket Factory was launched in 2007 and is a trading division of The National Exhibition Centre Ltd. The Ticket Factory head office and contact centre is based at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.
The Ticket Factory sells and distributes tickets across the UK for music concerts, sporting events, festivals, comedy shows, theatre and exhibitions. The Ticket Factory is the box office for Birmingham-based venues; bp pulse LIVE, the Utilita Arena Birmingham and National Exhibition Centre, as well as being the primary agent for Royal Horticultural Society and British Athletics. The Ticket Factory is member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers.
The Ticket Factory became exclusive ticket agent for the Society of London Theatre’s ‘Get Into London Theatre’ 2014 campaign.
In 2012, Barclaycard partnered with The Ticket Factory to become their official payment partner, which evolved into the Barclaycard Unwind brand and Fee Free Friday.
In 2014, The Ticket Factory's parent company, The National Exhibition Centre Ltd. announced a partnership with Virgin Trains West Coast.
In 2020, The Ticket Factory worked with Acorns Children's Hospice on the first collaboration with welfare.
In 2024, The Ticket Factory was acquired by AXS, a global ticketing company to manage ticketing for the two Birmingham arenas.
History
- 1970 NEC Box Office opens
- 1998 First online ticket sales launched
- 2006 First tickets scanned for admission to Whitesnake concert at the National Indoor Arena
- 2007 Re-launched as The Ticket Factory
- 2012 Barclaycard becomes official payment partner
- 2013 Royal Horticultural Society re-appoints The Ticket Factory as national box office
- 2014 Announces partnership with Virgin Trains West Coast
- 2016 Becomes the first ticket agent to allow deaf and disabled customers to purchase tickets online through a partnership with the Access Card
- 2017 Launches the first ever ticketing apprenticeship
- 2019 Signs a new ticketing partnership with Royal Horticultural Society and becomes official ticketing supplier to British Athletics
- 2024 Sold to AXS