With more than 3,800 wristbands distributed and over 13,000 entry scans, the 2025 Rocket Classic became the first PGA TOUR tournament to deploy RFID and Onsite Swap technology, transforming SafeTix™ access at its newest hospitality venue, the Heritage Club Presented by AlumniFi. This innovation was made possible through a strategic partnership with Ticketmaster and Front Gate Tickets.
Innovative Solutions at the 2025 Rocket Classic
When the PGA TOUR returns to the historic Detroit Golf Club each year, the Rocket Classic relies on Ticketmaster to help host its annual event. Trusting in Ticketmaster’s proven reliability and support, the team was confident that implementing new RFID and Onsite Swap solutions would come with unmatched support.
Ticketmaster is such a great partner of ours. They are always sending us the most up-to-date enhancements of the platform, super responsive with any issues that arise, and the on-site tournament support is phenomenal. I honestly couldn’t do it without Ticketmaster’s Senior Technology Manager, Angie Rash. She was my liaison with Front Gate Tickets and kept me up to date on the process, what was needed from us, and how the integration would work in real-time. Any questions that we had, she immediately brought them to the team and had responses back in a timely manner.”
Kristin Coleman
Senior Manager of Ticketing, Rocket Classic
Install, Education and On-Site Support
Drawing on experience supporting premier festivals and events across the country, the teams at Ticketmaster and Front Gate Tickets worked with the Rocket Classic and PGA TOUR to seamlessly implement the RFID and Onsite Swap solution, ensuring the technology was set up for success. Beyond installation, they trained volunteers and provided on-site support throughout the event, allowing the Rocket Classic ticketing team to focus on welcoming fans at the main gate.
How the Onsite Swap Solution Worked
Being integrated with Ticketmaster, the Onsite Swap solution made it easy for fans to access the Heritage Club through their SafeTix ticket. Here’s what the fan journey looked like on event day:
1. Fans scanned their Ticketmaster SafeTix ticket at the gate to enter through the main entrance at the course.
2. At the Heritage Club entrance, a dedicated fulfillment area was established, where premium ticket holders exchanged their Ticketmaster SafeTix ticket for an RFID wristband. This wristband seamlessly linked to their account and provided access to internal scan zones throughout the venue.
3. Fans tapped their RFID wristband at the scanning portal to access the club, and could then enjoy premium seating, all-inclusive food and beverages and panoramic views.
4. The RFID wristbands allowed fans to exit and re-enter the Heritage Club freely, ensuring convenience and flexibility to explore the course.
With multiple entrances and exits, the club was designed for easy and convenient access to the area.
Key Benefits of Onsite Swap Solutions With Ticketmaster and Front Gate Tickets
Enhanced Security and Access Control
By linking each RFID wristband to a fan’s Ticketmaster SafeTix ticket, a client can ensure that every credential is both secure and verified. This solution helps eliminate the possibility of fraud and provides greater confidence at access points.
Real-Time Insights
This solution also unlocks a breadth of new insights that clients can leverage in real-time, including entry times, capacity and crowd flow, empowering them to make informed decisions throughout the event.
Faster Entry
The quick, seamless scanning process minimized wait times, offering fans a frictionless VIP experience.
Comprehensive Support
Front Gate Tickets manages the entire RFID swap process, including equipment installation, which delivers a hassle-free experience for fans and event organizers.
The support was magnificent. The Ticketmaster and Front Gate Tickets team was always in constant communication with me from install to tear down. Front Gate Tickets took the lead in training the volunteers on how the new process would work and stayed at the venue from open to close, every day, to ensure everything ran smoothly and to troubleshoot any issues that arose. It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders knowing they had the venue running so smoothly from a procedure and customer service standpoint, because I cannot be at two places at once.”
Kristin Coleman
Senior Manager of Ticketing, Rocket Classic
Results
Leveraging RFID and Onsite Swap solutions powered by Ticketmaster and Front Gate Tickets, the 2025 Rocket Classic distributed over 3,800 RFID wristbands at The Heritage Club and had more than 13,000 entry scans throughout the tournament. In conjunction with the powerful reports received through Ticketmaster, the insights gained from the RFID and Onsite Swap solutions at The Heritage Club enabled the tournament to delve deeper into fan behavior and strategize on how to optimize premium spaces and ticketing for future events.
About Ticketmaster and Front Gate Tickets
Front Gate Tickets is a portfolio company of Ticketmaster and is trusted by the industry’s biggest brands across the country, including Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Lollapalooza, NASCAR Chicago Street Race and more.
About the Rocket Classic’s Heritage Club
This premium space offered panoramic views of three signature holes, a mix of reserved and open seating and an all-inclusive experience. By implementing the RFID and Onsite Swap solutions for this club, the Rocket Classic was able to elevate the premium fan experience like never before, while capturing deeper insights into fan behavior on-site.
