Warriors fans furious as playoff tickets resurface at huge mark-ups

For Warriors fans who missed out on tickets to this weekend's NRL qualifying final against the Dolphins, the sting of disappointment was quickly followed by another insult - seeing the same tickets appear online for several times their face value.Not long afterwards, listings began appearing on Trade Me and other online marketplaces, with some sellers asking hundreds of dollars more than what they paid.One listing offered four tickets in the Eastern Stand for a buy-now price of $1200, describing them as "arguably the best seats in the house. Right where the Warriors walk out".The seller did not offer an explanantion for why they were selling the tickets.Another seller was asking $500 for two tickets in the uncovered South Stand - seats which ordinarily cost $25 for an adult during the regular season, although the price for the play-off was increased to around $45.For some fans, the practice crossed a line. The question-and-answer sections of some listings became impromptu battlegrounds, with frustrated supporters accusing sellers of cashing in on the huge demand for one of the biggest Warriors games in years."You're a dog for selling these tickets to make money and actual fans can't even go to see it live," one person wrote."You are an actual scumbag," another posted.Warriors' star and fan favourite Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.Jason O'Brien/PhotosportOthers questioned whether the practice of on-selling the tickets at large mark-up breached the terms and conditions set by Ticketmaster, the official ticketing agent for the game.Ticketmaster did not respond to requests for comment. Its website states that tickets resold through its own resale platform are subject to a price cap of 120 per cent of their original value.However, that cap applies only to Ticketmaster's official resale platform, rather than tickets being offered independently on third-party marketplaces such as Trade Me.One seller, who chose to leave the comments in the question section visible, defended the decision to sell the tickets."I get you are pissed off and I can understand why," they wrote. "But honestly there's people selling hundreds of tickets a game. Not worth stressing out over a couple of tickets - take on the real problem instead," wrote the seller, who was seeking $500 for two tickets in the South Stand.But what fans call scalping is not necessarily prohibited under New Zealand's ticket resale rules.Trade Me said that for most events people are permitted to resell legitimate tickets provided they have them in their possession.In a statement to RNZ, James Ryan, the organisation's policy and compliance manager, said ticket listings would only be pulled if members cannot prove they have them in their possession, the event organiser has cancelled tickets, or if they fall under the Major Events Management Act."For us it's a balancing act," Ryan said. "It's disappointing if genuine fans aren't able to get their hands on tickets when they are made available, for whatever reason."But the online marketplace also provides an alternative for fans who missed out, he said, with prices reflecting "market forces at work".Sports broadcaster and self-professed league tragic Sam Ackerman took a different view, arguing that while high demand would inevitably leave some fans disappointed, there was a difference between missing out because there were not enough tickets and missing out because other fans had bought them intending to cash in.Posting on The League Fix Facebook page, Ackerman argued that reselling tickets for a large profit goes against the culture the Warriors have cultivated, where relatively affordable tickets have helped build a strong connection between the club and its supporters."Those who grabbed tickets with only the intent to make a profit have also screwed over members - people they might sit nearby for all home games all season - who missed out on being able to be there to see the reward of their loyal support," Ackerman wrote."Missing out on tickets due to fan demand, all with the same opportunity is part of life. But missing that chance because someone chose to make a profit they did nothing to earn is hard to digest."The Warriors guaranteed themselves two home play-offs, and are keen to play both at their fortress Mount Smart Stadium.Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nzThe demand for tickets for Saturday's match will likely put further pressure on officials to move the Warriors final home play-off game to the Eden Park, which, with a capacity of 50,000, can hold roughly double the number of fans as Mount Smart.While Warriors chief executive Cameron George has made it clear it is the team's strong preference to stay at Mount Smart, the finals series is controlled by the NRL, which "reserves the right, at its sole discretion to determine venues considered most suitable to host the NRL and NRLW final series matches".Earlier this week NRL boss Peter V'landys told the Sydney Morning Herald that the expected groundswell of support for the Warriors meant a move to Eden Park was virtually inevitable for the club's second play-off game."I'd say you'd be 90 per cent sure that we'll be going to Eden Park," V'landys said."We've discussed it with the club. They'd like to stay at Mount Smart, but they realise that if all goes to plan, they're going to have a massive audience and they'll be accommodated at Eden Park."