Tigers fans to be shut out, priced out of key Geelong clashPETER ROLFE,
sports affairs reporter,
Herald Sun
27 July 2017RICHMOND fans hoping to cheer on their team in the race to the finals are set to be ripped off or locked out of a key clash against Geelong.
All but solo seats to the Tigers’ round 21 match against the Cats at Simonds Stadium were sold out to the general public today with one ticket selling for $51.70 on Ticketmaster.
With seemingly no seats next to each other for Tigers fans dreaming of September glory, resale sites have alredy begun jacking up prices, leaving supporters to decide how much they’re willing to fork out to see their team play.
TicketMaster’s controversial resale site was today selling tickets for up to $228 for the home and away blockbuster.
Secondary ticket seller Viagogo was this afternoon selling seats to the match for between $63 and $199 plus booking and handling fees.
AFL Fans Association president Gerry Eeman said Federal and State Governments needed to act in the interest of ordinary supporters.
“Something really, desperately, needs to be done about resale sites facilitating legalised scalping,’’ he said.
“You should only be able to resell your ticket at its face value, this problem rears its head time and again and it’s becoming ridiculous.’’
Simonds Stadium has a capacity of 34,000 but Geelong chief executive Brian Cook this week revealed 3000 seats would be set aside for Richmond supporters at the Cats home game.
Some Richmond members were able to buy a limited number of tickets together by upgrading to reserves seats today but no general admission were available.
Ticketmaster has been contacted for comment and asked if any further seats will become available closer to the August 12 fixture.
Mr Eeman feared ticket prices to more matches would continue to spiral out of reach.
“If something is not done it’s not going to go away, we’re just going to see it get worse,’’ he said.
“It’s driving people nuts.’’
He said Essendon and Collingwood’s Anzac Day blockbuster and big matches at Etihad Stadium and Simonds Stadium were a “real problem’’ for fans being priced out of entry due to secondary ticket sellers.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/tigers-fans-to-be-shut-out-priced-out-of-key-geelong-clash/news-story/fb466d7aee2da952ec154232878e491e