New Yorkers and visitors to the city can now purchase MetroCards online
thanks to a partnership between Pasadena, CA-based Ticketmaster
Online-CitySearch and MTA New York City Transit (NYCT).
The one-year exclusive deal allows consumers to purchase a wide range of NYCT
MetroCards online at the metrocard.citysearch.com Web
site. Financial arrangements were not disclosed.
CitySearch will be MetroCard’s only online merchant and will support and
maintain the e-commerce system. In addition to purchasing MetroCards on the
CitySearch Web site, consumers can get music, sports and theater tickets
online, make reservations, and buy products from local businesses on the New
York Web site.
“Now on one site, a
person can read a theater review, purchase tickets, select a restaurant and
buy a MetroCard to get them there,” said Charles Conn, CEO of Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch. “Our goal is to offer a complete closed-loop service to consumers: providing them in-depth information on
where to go and what to do, then offering solutions that help them get things
done.”
American Express is a sponsor of the site and offers its “Online Shopping
Guarantee,” assuring that when customers use the American Express Card, they will not be
held responsible for any unauthorized charges online. The MetroCards will be sent
to consumers via regular mail.