How many of you have bought tickets off a
third party?
As I was reading some of the "Tweets" on Twitter I came across an interesting post about Seattle Sounder FC tickets at "great prices." This was not coming from the Sounders official Web site but a local ticket broker that shall remain nameless. When I saw this, I thought to myself, "Now we have arrived as a major league franchise".
That's because third party ticket brokers are snatching up tickets and selling them above market price for fans that were not able to get tickets.
To Continue...
Why were they not able to get tickets? The reason is simple the games are sold out. SSFC has sold 22,000 season tickets and the single game tickets are being snatched up rather quickly.
Some tickets are purchased by "real" fans who are passionate for pro soccer, but some are also being bought by ticket brokers hungry to make a buck at the expense of the club and the fans.
Ok, I get it...
Now I understand that part of what these ticket brokers do is that they provide a "valuable service" to fans who have tickets they can't use for whatever reason and want to get money for them. This is fine, but instead of selling them to a broker, why not try giving them to friends? Or why not sell them for face value to someone who is excited about seeing the game and couldn't get tickets because the game was sold out? I understand we live in a free market economy and all but hey, I am just sayin'.
"The Sting"
The way ticket brokers work is they pay folks to flood the phone lines or internet web site and snatch up tickets for them directly. Essentially, the brokers pay market price for the tickets, fair enough but here is the rub, they then turn around and sell them on the open market to whoever is willing to pay the (broker determined) market price. Does the club benefit from the extra money? They certainly do not and thus neither do the coaches or players. The fans get gauged as well.
Do you know where I can get tickets?
Because of what I do, I have fans e-mailing me throughout the week and day to see if I have extra tickets or know anyone that has extra tickets. I had several requests from folks today. I am flattered that folks would see me as a resource and see me as someone that is plugged in. If I have friends that are looking to unload tickets I certainly will direct folks their way.
But I am torn...
I really want to help but I feel kind of slimy if I tell them they can probably get tickets from a scalper before the game. What is the alternative? They have to show up to the game early to find someone that has a seat and pay perhaps twice the original value of the ticket.
I know how the game is played
I am not looking at this through rose colored glasses. I have been around the block a few times. I understand that the market determines the value of one’s ticket. If people are willing to pay above market price, then the brokers and scammers will continue to take advantage of the fans in a supply and demand market.
I have been guilty too
At the risk of sounding like a total hypocrite, I must tell you I have bought tickets from scalpers in the past for concerts like but rarely have I paid much more above market value.
How to get a ticket without emptying your wallet...
For those of you who plan on attending today's match and don't have a ticket, here is a little tip. The closer to game time the less the ticket will cost. You see it is kind of like stock, the closer to the match the less the value of the ticket, the more willing the broker is to sell.
Why? The broker would rather get something than walk away with an attractive piece of paper with a nice picture on it worth nothing. Once the match starts and the deeper it gets into the match the less the value of that ticket and the more it sits in the brokers hand while the match progresses, the value continues to drop and by 20minutes in, they will probably just hand it to you and say have a nice day.
It's about the fans
Why am I passionate about this? Because at the end of the day I am a fan and I do what I do here on behalf of the fans. I also support the club here because I know that it may be difficult for the Front Office to police this. I want to see fans that want to go to a game pay what I and others paid for their tickets, instead of lining the pockets of some third party broker that does not have the interest of the club or the fans in mind.
I know that my little rant is not going to change anything because this is nothing new to the professional sports world; it goes on and will continue to go on until there is a better process in place to prevent this from happening. I figure I have a little bully pulpit here so as a writer that represents some of the fans, I figured I could at least do my part here.
To those of you that do have tickets, I hope to see you at the match tomorrow. And hopefully those of you who don’t have tickets will be able to get one without having to give up eating for a week. To Sounders FC, welcome to the big leagues indeed.
