Police ‘send message,’ arrest suspected Hip ticket scalpers
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/08/2016 (3691 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Winnipeg police have arrested two people who they say were scalping Tragically Hip tickets, with one trying to sell them for nearly four times their face value.
The iconic Canadian band performs Friday at MTS Centre as part of a cross-country tour arranged in May after lead singer and lyricist Gord Downie announced he has incurable brain cancer. Tickets sold out almost immediately.
The accused scalpers were each advertising pairs of floor tickets online. Const. Rob Carver said undercover officers contacted and met with each seller, resulting in their arrests.
“In this instance, two individuals both sold pairs of tickets. Those tickets had a face value of $117. One individual attempted to sell them for $800 for the pair, and the other ended up being bargained down to $680,” Carver said.
A 30-year-old man and 31-year-old woman were issued provincial offence notices for breaching the Amusement Act and were released. They could face fines set by the court up to $5,000.
“Section 60 of the Amusement Act does state that ‘no person shall barter exchange for any ticket to a place of amusement for a price or consideration greater than that paid or given therefore to the owner of the place of amusement to which it is an admission.’ Basically, you can’t sell them for more than you paid for them,” Carver said.
Carver said while ticket scalping is common, police often don’t have the resources to actively seek out scalpers. As well, it’s tough to track down scalpers from different provinces and countries, he said. But in this case, police decided to target locals taking advantage of fans desperate to see what’s likely to be the band’s final show in Winnipeg.
“The announcement of the Tragically Hip’s final concert tour was significant for Canadians and a lot of people are passionate about this group. Within hours of tickets going on sale, people were complaining online and to media about ticket scalping. I think in this instance we felt an obligation to address this. While we don’t do it as a normal course, it was done in this case to send a message.”
Carver said more arrests could come before the Hip hits the stage.
“We may in fact have officers out looking for scalping as well,” Carver said. “It is illegal. There are fines. We’ll seize the tickets.”
There are often uniformed police at large concerts and sporting events to help with crowd management and security, but he said those won’t be the officers looking for scalpers.
“I’m not saying we will not have undercover, plain-clothes officers out attempting to deal with potential scalping.”
bailey.hildebrand@freepress.mb.ca
Tickets! Who needs tickets?
Some people on classified website Kijiji are trying to sell tickets to the Tragically Hip’s Winnipeg show Friday.
One seller with an extra ticket won’t sell to just anyone.
“I want it to go to a woman I find attractive,” the ad reads. “Price is very negotiable and may be free for a trade of some kind.”
Const. Rob Carver said while the ad may seem a bit suspicious, it’s not something police have the resources to investigate.
“You have no idea who you’re dealing with. This is a problem for police often. This could be a legitimate, odd comment from someone who actually thinks that’s the way to meet somebody,” he said.
“Creepy and socially awkward doesn’t constitute criminal.
“That’s certainly the kind of thing that I think anyone should be raising their eyebrows at and I hope no woman decides that’s a good way to get a Hip ticket.”
Another seller says a family miscommunication means he has a pair of tickets up for grabs.
“I was planning to take my daughter but her mother is taking her and didn’t tell me,” the posting states.
This seller is also looking for the right buyer for the tickets he says he “paid about $600 each for.”
“Text ‘New Orleans is sinking’ and I’ll know you’re interested. Hope to find a lucky fan. All offers considered!”
Another seller who got a little too eager about the show is looking to unload an extra platinum ticket, worth $675, and he’s offering an incentive.
“Not a scalper, just a hardcore fan who got desperate and is now broke,” the post says. “Screw Ticketmaster. Go Gord Go. First beer is on me.”
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History
Updated on Thursday, August 4, 2016 4:52 PM CDT: Adds jurisdictional note, box.
