Director of Ticketing & Fan Experience

Intersport•Chicago, IL

6d•$65,000 - $75,000

About The Position

In 2026, the APP is transforming its events from tournament-first competitions into experience-first pickleball festivals. These events combine elite professional competition with participation, lifestyle programming, and community-driven entertainment. The Director of Ticketing & Fan Experience (Director) sits at the intersection of revenue, experience, and community. The Director will help define how fans engage with APP events, from first click to final match point, and play a key role in shaping the future of live pickleball as a cultural and lifestyle experience. The Director is responsible for creating and executing ticket sales strategies while designing and delivering exceptional fan experiences across all APP events. Responsibilities span revenue generation, data-driven ticketing operations, and end-to-end fan journey design – from ticket purchase through post-event engagement. As such, the ideal candidate is both analytically minded and fan-obsessed, with a passion for live sports, experiential marketing, and operational excellence. This is a senior, revenue-critical role, responsible for designing, selling, and operating ticketing experiences that maximize attendance, dwell time, per-capita spend, and fan satisfaction across a national calendar of APP events. The Director owns the full ticketing ecosystem, from pre-event sales strategy and packaging, to on-site ticket operations and fan journey design, to post-event analysis and optimization. Further, the Director will: Perform a senior role in the team transforming APP events into must-attend pickleball festivals Drive sell-through of GA, VIP, and experiential products Create frictionless, welcoming, and upgrade-friendly fan journeys Build scalable ticketing frameworks across markets Use data to continuously optimize pricing, product, and conversion

Requirements

Minimum of five (5) years’ full-time experience in in sports, music, or festival ticketing, inclusive of both strategy and execution
Proven success managing pre-event sales and on-site ticket operations
Experience selling premium and experiential ticket products
Proven track record of driving ticket sales revenue and improving fan satisfaction
Strong understanding of ticketing platforms and access control
Experience managing ticketing platforms (e.g., Ticketmaster, Paciolan, SeatGeek, or similar)
Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable strategies
Data-driven mindset with strong operational skills
Willingness to travel extensively and work nights/weekends during events
Flexibility to work both independently and collaboratively in an entrepreneurial environment

Nice To Haves

Festival, experiential event, multi-event tour, and/or league background a plus
On-site upsell and fan-journey expertise a plus
Leadership experience within ticketing or event operations a plus
Knowledge of pickleball or strong interest in the sport a plus

Responsibilities

Develop and execute ticketing strategies for all APP events, including pricing, packaging, promotions, and inventory management
Design and oversee the end-to-end fan experience at APP events, from arrival to departure
Own ticketing strategy aligned with the experience-first festival model
Design ticket products that support participation, discovery, and social engagement
Lead pricing, bundling, and packaging across GA, VIP, clinics, add-ons and hospitality experiences that enhance value for fans, partners, and players
Forecast ticket revenue, manage ticketing-related budgets, and manage performance against targets
Partner with Marketing on audience-led ticket messaging
Execute ticket on-sale strategies for each APP event
Manage inventory, pricing tiers, discounting, and releases
Monitor sales velocity and adjust tactics, as needed
Support experiential storytelling in purchase flows
Align ticketing with sponsor and community goals
Own relationships with ticketing platforms and vendors; oversee system setup, reporting, and troubleshooting
Establish service standards for fan-facing touchpoints including entry, seating, hospitality, premium areas, and customer service
Partner with operations, sponsorship, and broadcast teams to integrate fan activations, signage, and interactive experiences
Lead on-site ticketing and access operations
Design festival-style entry and upgrade flows
Oversee box office, scanning, credentials, trouble-shooting, and issue resolution
Actively promote on-site upsells and upgrades
Ensure ticketing enhances the overall event experience
Serve as the primary on-site lead for ticketing and fan experience execution at tournaments.
Manage on-site staff, volunteers, and vendors related to ticketing, access control, and fan services
Ensure seamless coordination with security, venue partners, and local stakeholders
Create and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for ticketing and fan experience operations
Analyze ticket sales data, attendance trends, and customer insights to optimize revenue and fan access
Own ticketing data, reporting, and insights
Analyze fan behavior and purchase patterns and lead fan feedback initiatives and implement continuous improvements based on insights and data
Deliver post-event performance reports
Build and evolve a scalable ticketing “playbook”
Serve as internal authority on ticketing
Collaborate with Competition, Marketing, Sales and Partnerships, and Operations to align ticket sales campaigns with brand and audience growth goals
Support sponsor and partner ticketing needs
Manage ticketing platform and service partners