Event Tickets in Stores

USC football fans in Orange County may soon be able to buy tickets to home games while they shop for groceries or books as part of a ticket sale arrangement between the university and ETM Entertainment Network Inc. in Costa Mesa.

ETM, an entertainment ticketing company, said it plans to install electronic kiosks in certain Gelson’s Supermarkets, Borders Book & Music Stores and other Orange County locations starting next month. Shoppers will be able to purchase tickets to USC football games and other Southland events at the kiosks, said company spokesman Gary Bird.

ETM will also sell USC tickets by phone, Bird said. Tickets cost $22 apiece, plus a $5.50 service and handling charge for each transaction by phone. Tickets purchased at kiosks cost $25 apiece, including a $3 service charge.

USC will continue to sell tickets at its campus box offices and by subscription, Bird said. But the university’s agreement with ETM makes tickets available electronically and by phone for the first time, Bird said.

The kiosks are initially being installed only in Orange County, but are likely to be introduced in Los Angeles County later, Bird said.

Greg Miller covers high technology for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-7830 and at greg.miller@latimes.com