Once known as an ‘alternative’ payment method, digital payments, such as instant payments, are quickly becoming the dominant class of payments in the industry. According to Worldpay, digital payments grew from 34% of e-commerce value in 2014 to 66% in 2024. In-store, they rose from just 3% to 38% during the same period.
This shift is reshaping how people pay – and nowhere is that change more visible than in the ticketing and events space. Whether it’s booking flights, securing concert seats, or buying a match-day snack, today’s consumers expect transactions to be fast, secure, and effortless.
But behind the scenes, many payment systems still rely on outdated infrastructure that slows everything down. High fees, fraud risks, and delayed settlements don’t just frustrate travellers and fans: they impact organisers, venues, and platforms, too, resulting in lost revenue, operational inefficiency, and a customer experience that feels stuck in the past.
That’s where instant payments come in. Using open banking-led infrastructure, they connect customers and organisers directly – no cards, no intermediaries, no waiting. The result is a payment experience that’s faster, more transparent, and more rewarding for everyone involved.
In this article, we’ll explore how instant payments are transforming the ticketing industry – before, during, and after the event.
Topics covered include:
- Before the event
- During the event
- After the event
- The future of ticketing is instant
Before the event
Whether it’s securing a seat at a concert or booking a flight for a long-awaited trip, the experience starts long before the event itself. Unfortunately, it’s often the payments that slow everything down. Hidden fees, fraud risks, and slow settlements affect everyone – customers, ticketing platforms, and travel providers alike. Instant payments are changing that.
Whether buying concert tickets or booking flights, customers want a fast, frictionless payment experience. With instant payments, checkout happens in seconds – no card details, no delays, no confusion about fees or currencies. It’s simple, secure, and aligned with the modern demand for convenience and transparency.
What’s more, expediency is far from the only benefit instant payments offer before the event:
Faster, cheaper, and more secure ticket sales
Traditional card payments in ticketing are slow and expensive. Every purchase goes through multiple intermediaries, with processing fees of 1–3% that quickly add up – especially for platforms handling thousands of transactions a day. These costs eat into already tight margins and delay when organisers actually receive the funds.
The solution: account-to-account (A2A) payments. By connecting customers directly with their banks, instant payments bypass costly card networks, resulting in:
- Lower fees: Airlines and ticketing platforms save on every transaction.
- Immediate settlements: Funds arrive instantly – no more waiting days for card clearing.
- Simpler reconciliation: Real-time payments mean easier tracking and reduced admin.
Example: An event platform like Ticketmaster or a major airline like Ryanair can save millions in annual processing fees by introducing a Pay by Bank option. Those savings can be reinvested in better pricing, improved services, or exclusive early-access offers for customers.
Built-in protection against fraud and chargebacks
High-demand events and travel tickets are both prime targets for fraud. Scalpers and bad actors frequently use stolen credit card details to purchase large volumes of tickets, leading to costly chargebacks and dissatisfied customers.
Instant payments make it far harder for scalpers or fraudsters to manipulate the system. Every payment comes from a verified bank account, ensuring genuine transactions and fewer cancellations later.
With strong customer authentication (SCA), every transaction is approved securely via the customer’s banking app, often using biometrics like a fingerprint or face scan. This eliminates stolen card fraud and protects both the business and the customer.
Read more: Security and Fraud Prevention in Instant Transactions
During the event
When it comes to events like festivals, concerts and sports matches, the experience should be about excitement – not queues, slow transactions, or administrative headaches. Yet for many venues, managing ticket validation, in-stadium purchases, and real-time payments is a major operational challenge.
Instant payments streamline these processes, benefiting both organisers and attendees:
Faster in-stadium payments
Long lines at concession stands, merchandise shops, or VIP lounges can frustrate fans and slow down service. Traditional card payments can take several seconds per transaction – and higher-volume days can create bottlenecks.
With A2A payments, fans can pay directly from their bank account using QR codes or in-app links. Transactions settle immediately, potentially reducing wait times and enhancing the overall flow within the stadium.
Example: A football club introduces an open banking solution for both online ticket sales and in-stadium purchases. Fans can scan a QR code to instantly pay for food, drinks, or merchandise, avoiding long queues and card fees. The club benefits from faster settlements and real-time visibility into cash flow during the match.
Real-time visibility for organisers
From topping up concessions, stock to dispatching staff to busy areas, event organisers often need to make rapid decisions during the event. With traditional payments, delayed settlements make real-time cash visibility impossible – but with immediate settlements and dashboards, this is a challenge of the past.
Instant payments allow organisers to see all transactions as they happen. This real-time insight helps with inventory management, staffing, and operational adjustments.
Example: At a music festival, organisers track food and merchandise sales in real-time via an instant payments dashboard. They can restock popular items, deploy extra staff to busy areas, and even adjust prices for certain products during the event, maximising customer satisfaction and revenue.
Improved fan and member experiences
When transactions are quick, seamless, and secure, fans feel valued and engaged. No waiting, no confusion, no failed payments – just smooth interactions from start to finish.
Fans can pay for merchandise via their bank app in seconds. Because payments are instant and verified, the venue doesn’t need to worry about chargebacks or failed transactions, and fans leave happy with a stress-free experience.
For organisers offering memberships or season passes, instant payments also make recurring payments simple and reliable. Members can pay for access or perks in advance, with automatic verification. That means less admin – and smoother access during games or events.
After the event
The event may be over – but payments still matter. Whether it’s refunding a cancelled ticket, managing post-event payouts, or keeping fans engaged, instant payments help event organisers and ticketing platforms strengthen relationships long after the lights go out.
Fast, frictionless refunds
Event cancellations and postponements don’t happen often. But when they do, refunds are a pain point for both fans and organisers. Traditional card-based refunds can take several days to reach a customer’s account, leading to frustration and more support calls.
With instant payments, refunds can be issued in seconds, directly to the customer’s bank account. This creates a better experience and helps rebuild trust.
Example: A music festival is forced to cancel due to bad weather. Rather than leaving thousands of fans waiting a week for their money back, the organiser can issue refunds instantly, reassuring customers and protecting the festival’s reputation.
Solutions like Brite Instant Payments make this process simple: refunds are processed directly between bank accounts, with no intermediaries, card schemes, or hidden delays.
Real-time settlements for organisers and vendors
After the event, vendors and suppliers need to be paid. With traditional payment systems, settlement delays can last for days or weeks, tying up cash that organisers could use elsewhere.
Instant payments ensure that ticketing platforms, concession vendors, and other partners receive their money immediately. This improves cash flow, reduces the administrative burden, and helps build stronger partnerships between organisers and vendors.
Rewarding fans and building loyalty
Instant payments don’t just make transactions faster: they open the door to more personalised, engaging fan experiences. When integrated with open banking data (with user consent), organisers can gain a better understanding of spending habits and tailor offers accordingly.
Fans who buy tickets or make in-stadium purchases via instant payments can automatically earn points, get cashback, or receive personalised post-event offers – no separate apps or loyalty cards required.
Donations and fundraising
Many events and clubs rely on community support after the main event. With open banking, this process may become even simpler.
Supporters could potentially donate through a payment link or QR code. Funds, once authorised, are transferred instantly, meaning organisers can start using the money right away – without delays, card fees, or manual reconciliation.
The future of ticketing is instant
From buying tickets to getting refunds, instant payments are changing every step of the event experience. By removing intermediaries, enabling real-time settlements, and adding built-in security, instant payments make every transaction faster, cheaper, and more transparent.
For organisers, that means lower costs, better cash flow, and greater operational control. For fans, it means fewer queues, faster refunds, and a more connected experience – before, during, and after the event.
As the ticketing industry continues to evolve, instant payments won’t just be a technical upgrade: they’ll become a competitive advantage. Providers that embrace account-to-account payments can deliver smoother experiences, strengthen customer loyalty, and unlock new revenue opportunities in the process.
With solutions like Brite Instant Payments, that future is already here and developing fast. By making payments truly instant, secure, and effortless, Brite is helping the ticketing and events industry move at the same speed as its fans: fast, connected, and ready for whatever comes next.
Instant Payments and Ticketing
If you would like to know more about how you can add Instant Payments to your online payment mix at checkout, then get in touch with our payment experts today.
