A pair of profiteering scalpers has been arrested in Winnipeg for trying to sell tickets to tomorrow's (August 5) Tragically Hip concert at ridiculously jacked-up prices.
CBC reports that Winnipeg police had caught the two ticket sellers in an online sting, with officials going undercover to pose as Hip fans desperately trying to see the group on their immediately sold-out final tour.
The 31-year-old woman and the 30-year-old man were each selling a pair of floor tickets for the show, with one charging $800 for the seats and the other $680. The original ticket price was $170, or $340 for a pair.
The arrests were made under Manitoba's Amusement Act, which outlines that it is illegal to sell, "barter or exchange" tickets to entertainment events at a cost higher than their original price.
"Basically, you can't sell them for more than you paid for them," Winnipeg police Const. Rob Carver told the press, adding that the man and woman have since been released, but their tickets have been seized.
While Carver noted that the police don't often enforce measures this way, they're using the way scalpers have been exploiting the Tragically Hip's final tour to send a message.
"A lot of people are passionate about this group," Carver said. "I think in this instance, we felt we had an obligation to address this, so while we don't do this as a normal course, it was done in this case I think to send a message."
As previously reported, the Hip's current tour behind Man Machine Poem will be their last, as frontman Gord Downie has terminal brain cancer.
While the Canadian tour sold out immediately, the band have since opened up additional seats, which are being sold through a lottery system the day of each performance.
You'll find their remaining tour schedule down below.
Tour dates:
08/05 Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
08/08 London, ON - Budweiser Gardens
08/10 Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
08/12 Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
08/14 Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
08/16 Hamilton, ON - FirstOntario Centre
08/18 Ottawa, ON - Canadian Tire Centre
08/20 Kingston, ON - Rogers K-Rock Centre
CBC reports that Winnipeg police had caught the two ticket sellers in an online sting, with officials going undercover to pose as Hip fans desperately trying to see the group on their immediately sold-out final tour.
The 31-year-old woman and the 30-year-old man were each selling a pair of floor tickets for the show, with one charging $800 for the seats and the other $680. The original ticket price was $170, or $340 for a pair.
The arrests were made under Manitoba's Amusement Act, which outlines that it is illegal to sell, "barter or exchange" tickets to entertainment events at a cost higher than their original price.
"Basically, you can't sell them for more than you paid for them," Winnipeg police Const. Rob Carver told the press, adding that the man and woman have since been released, but their tickets have been seized.
While Carver noted that the police don't often enforce measures this way, they're using the way scalpers have been exploiting the Tragically Hip's final tour to send a message.
"A lot of people are passionate about this group," Carver said. "I think in this instance, we felt we had an obligation to address this, so while we don't do this as a normal course, it was done in this case I think to send a message."
As previously reported, the Hip's current tour behind Man Machine Poem will be their last, as frontman Gord Downie has terminal brain cancer.
While the Canadian tour sold out immediately, the band have since opened up additional seats, which are being sold through a lottery system the day of each performance.
You'll find their remaining tour schedule down below.
Tour dates:
08/05 Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
08/08 London, ON - Budweiser Gardens
08/10 Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
08/12 Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
08/14 Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
08/16 Hamilton, ON - FirstOntario Centre
08/18 Ottawa, ON - Canadian Tire Centre
08/20 Kingston, ON - Rogers K-Rock Centre
