VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) announced Jan. 29 that it is piloting a program with RedBox, its DVD rental business partner, to sell local tickets to sporting events, music, arts, theater, family and various other live events through its vending kiosks.
"This new initiative is being offered as a cooperative effort between NEXCOM and Commander Naval Installations Command (CNIC)/ITT Ticket Program Office," said Gerard Fantano, NEXCOM vending branch manager. "RedBox kiosks are placed in various locations throughout the base, making it an ideal way for military members to purchase local event tickets. We see this as a win-win for our Sailors as well as all personnel on base."
Once at the RedBox kiosk, customers can choose the event, pick a seat and purchase a ticket. During the ticket selection and purchase process, customers can choose to either pick up the ticket at the Will Call window before the event or have the ticket voucher sent to them via email to print at home. Redbox charges a $1 fee per ticket for its service.
"This service will supplement the already great entertainment and ticket options available to authorized patrons by allowing us to make a wider variety of tickets available than we are able to at our 84 local ticket offices," said Dawn Smith, CNIC ITT program manager.
NEXCOM is testing this program at RedBox locations aboard Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme, Naval Base Ventura County (Point Mugu) and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif., beginning Feb. 1. NEXCOM currently has 100 RedBox kiosks on Navy bases around throughout installations within continental United States and Hawaii.
Since ticket sales are the responsibility of Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), profits generated through this program will be given back to MWR to support Navy quality of life programs. Currently, 70 percent of NEX profits go to MWR. Since 1946, NEXCOM has contributed more than $2.3 billion in NEX profits to MWR programs.
