Naperville partners to start ticket-selling site to help charities
Kevin Nemetz didn't like what he saw at area sporting events: a lot of empty seats. As an avid volunteer for some charities, he knew there could be a worthwhile connection to help fill those seats.
By May 1, consumers in Chicago, Denver, New York and Los Angeles will see that connection in Tix4Cause.com. The new Web site allows those who have tickets, but are unable to use them for some reason, to offer them for sale. The online forum will then provide 100 percent of the ticket price to charity.
"That's what it's all about, the charities," said Nemetz, founder and CEO.
A few years ago, Nemetz got the idea for an online forum where ticket holders could unload their tickets, instead of leaving all of those seats empty at sporting events, concerts, plays and other events.
Nemetz, a former sales and marketing executive with Proctor & Gamble and Dean Foods, and partner Tom Miers of Naperville and three others got together to design and launch the site. They're now beta testing it for the Chicago market.
About 30 charities like the idea and have signed on, hoping to fill the gaps that the recession caused to their bottom lines. Charities already listed on the site include ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter, Heritage YMCA Group, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Little Friends Inc., Naperville Area Humane Society, NCO Youth & Family Services, among others.
The site charges charities a $349 annual fee and consumers who purchase tickets will pay an 8 percent service charge on the total price of their tickets. Often, those ticket prices will be discounted, depending on how close to the date of the event. The charities then receive 100 percent of the sold ticket prices, he said.
Ticketholders can go to the Web site, enter their ticket information and select the cause to benefit from the donation. They can send their tickets to Tix4Cause electronically or by mail.
Consumers can go to the site, much like other online ticket forums, and choose either by event, date or charity. The site also is being promoted on Facebook and among the charities listed, he said.
"Some charities said they'd even like to sell their own event tickets through this site, which is something we may do," Nemetz said.
Surfing: Itasca-based Aircell, which offers the Gogo in-flight Internet system on some airlines now, said travelers can use the in-flight service to get free peak at the scores for March Madness games. Just open your browser in flight to check on your favorite team.
• Verizon Wireless, which has its Midwest headquarters in Schaumburg, said Motorola's Devour is now available online and in Verizon Wireless stores for $149.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and a two-year contract.
• Speaking of Verizon Wireless, it just signed a deal with Alcatel-Lucent for voice and data wireless solutions, to help build its 4G network. Alcatel-Lucent has offices in Naperville.