Massis seals Ticketmaster deal, cash to lift ban and sign more | OneFootball

São Paulo may have found in its new ticketing partner the solution to resolve at least its most serious short-term financial problems (of course, we’re talking here about the transfer ban).

As first reported by journalist Jorge Nicola and confirmed to AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR by sources in São Paulo’s top brass, the Harry Massis administration secured the advance payment of at least R$ 250 million from the five-year contract it signed with Ticketmaster, the world’s largest ticket sales company, which will now be responsible for selling tickets for the club’s matches at Morumbi.

The R$ 250 million advance secured by São Paulo’s new commercial deal promises to be the major game-changer for the football department in this transfer window. The immediate cash injection appears as the definitive solution for Tricolor to settle its R$ 6.1 million debt to Lazio and lift FIFA’s transfer ban — making it possible to register center-back Domingos Duarte — while also giving the board financial breathing room to return to the market in search of new signings.

The five-year deal with Ticketmaster, the world’s largest ticket sales company, was finalized in a meeting last Thursday (23) by Massis. The partner will replace Total Acesso at Morumbi’s box office (matches, concerts, and events) and will also take over management of the membership program, previously run by Feng. The total value of the contract had not been disclosed as of the publication of this report.

Financial relief and squad investment

The R$ 250 million paid upfront by the new partner arrives at a critical moment, with the club facing delays in image rights payments and squad bonuses.

With the capital injection, Tricolor can resolve the urgent financial issue with FIFA within the internal deadline set for this weekend and regain the ability to invest in bringing in specific players requested by head coach Dorival Júnior in this transfer window.

Details of the negotiations and the NewC obstacle

To take over the membership program, São Paulo will have to pay the termination penalty on Feng’s contract, which had been renewed at the start of 2025 by former marketing director Eduardo Toni (with a clause granting 11% of the first monthly payment from new members).

São Paulo’s board also considered a competing offer from NewC worth R$ 500 million — the company responsible for the facial recognition system at Palmeiras’ stadium.

The offer included taking over the box office operations, the membership program, and the surface rights to Morumbi.

However, the club’s bylaws prohibit the president from assigning the surface rights, making a deal with NewC unfeasible and sealing the partnership with Ticketmaster, with whom São Paulo was already close, since the company is part of the same holding group as Live Nation, also a Tricolor partner for hosting concerts at Morumbi.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.