We are very excited to cheer on Jessie Diggins and Team USA at the COOP FIS Cross Country World Cup Minneapolis this weekend. For the first time in twenty years, a XC Ski World Cup comes to the US. We are even more excited that our customer, the Loppet Foundation, is hosting it!
You can learn more about this weekend’s events and schedule here: https://loppetcup.com/. Check out the tv schedule here.
XC Ski World Cup Tickets
The Loppet Foundation used TicketSignup to distribute and sell 30,000 spectator tickets. General admission tickets are free thanks to the Loppet Foundation. They also sold limited numbers of Grandstand and VIP Spectator tickets.
Because the Loppet Foundation relies on donations to keep events like this free, attendees had the option to make a donation when they purchased tickets or as a standalone donation. The Loppet Foundation raised over $40,000 in donations by making that an option for attendees.
Loppet also used TicketSignup’s store to sell more than $50,000 of merchandise and carbon offsets. They partner with Green Minneapolis to support their certified Urban Tree Carbon Offset Program. Carbon offsets are available to purchase for $35, which purchases one credit to offset one metric ton of CO2. As directors look towards ways to make events sustainable, this is a great model to replicate.
The Ticket App makes it easy for Loppet Foundation’s volunteers to scan and check-in tickets. There are also options to filter or limit ticket types in the app. For example, the volunteers at the Grandstand can only see Grandstand purchases. This makes it even simpler to focus on greeting and quickly checking in attendees.
Selling Parking Reservations
Loppet Foundation also used TicketSignup to pre-sell parking reservations. They leveraged TicketSignup’s advanced grouping capabilities to offer parking at nine different lots.
Loppet Foundation’s Other Events
Loppet Foundation uses TicketSignup and RunSignup for dozens of other events throughout the year. Their sellout Luminary Loppet event features lights and ice sculptures for a nighttime snowshoe, walk, or cross-country ski around a trail. They use RunSignup (branded as SkiSignup) to sell more than 6,000 annual ski trail passes – https://www.skisignup.com/mprbskipasses. They also host a variety of youth programs and off-season bike and running races.
And More Championship XC Ski Racing!
XC ski racing in the US continues after the Loppet Cup with the Slumberland American Birkebeiner from February 21st to February 24th. Birkie will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year – and Jessie Diggins will also participate! Similar to the Loppet Foundation, Birkie uses TicketSignup and RunSignup (branded as SkiSignup) for ski and trail events throughout the year. Registration for the 50th Annual Birkie is open on SkiSignup – https://www.skisignup.com/birkie – with more than 13,000 participants already registered.
Birkie is also using TicketSignup for its special 50th anniversary. They are selling parking spots. Attendees can purchase a parking pass for $200. If they make a tax-deductible $1,000 donation, they get the parking spot for free. This is automated with TicketSignup’s donation discounts. They are also hosting a fundraiser dinner and using TicketSignup to sell individual tickets, tables, and sponsorships.
TicketSignup and RunSignup are versatile platforms that can help organizations with a huge range of events sell tickets and registrations, accept donations, and sell merchandise – all in one platform. We are so proud to work with the Loppet Foundation and American Birkebeiner, and cannot wait to watch these premiere ski events this month!