Fred Maglione
The Maglione Group
What were you doing in 1979?
I had been head of sales, ticketing and marketing for Philadelphia 76ers. I left the team at the end of the season and went to work for Globe Information Systems (GIS), a subsidiary of Globe Ticket Co. We were selling a computerized ticketing platform (Select-a Seat). Six months later I was part of the management team that bought GIS from Globe.
What drew you to INTIX?
The wonderful Pat Spira, I've always been impressed at what she created. In 1980 I got a call from Pat, telling me about the organization (BOMI, INTIX didn't exist then) and asking me and our company to participate in their inaugural conference. I wanted so much to participate, but I had been traveling straight for over two weeks and my wife would have killed me if I didn't head home. That's the only one I've missed in 40 years.
Talk about a mentor you met through INTIX and how that person helped better you personally and professionally.
That's a very tough one. The true value of the organization is all the great people I've met over the years. People that in addition to being trusted and valuable business colleagues have become true friends.
What’s an INTIX membership benefit that has been especially helpful to you?
By far, the value to me has been the global footprint of the organization. As a vendor, if you want to participate in this space, you have to belong to this organization.
What business challenge has kept you awake at night the most over the course of your career?
Keeping up with technology and the rapid changes. How the box office operated 40 years ago (what's the internet?) and today is dramatically different.
How do you see INTIX leading the way into the future of ticketing?
As time has passed, what you and I call ticketing (manage the inventory, set prices, distribute tickets and collect payment) has morphed into marketing, fan communication, security, ticket resale, the list goes on. More and more I'm seeing vendors from those industries participating at INTIX.
What’s your favorite INTIX memory?
Too many fun nights in the hotel bar after the day's events were completed. Some things are better left unsaid.