New Zealand Rugby has cancelled more than 700 tickets for an upcoming All Blacks game after being advised they are fraudulent by its partner Ticketek.
The sport’s governing body in New Zealand said it had been told by official agents that tickets were being sold for the game with South Africa through unauthorised channels such as Viagogo and it therefore decided to declare them invalid. NZ Rugby match tickets terms and conditions stress that tickets are invalidated unless they are purchased directly from the body and its partners, such as Ticketek, and cannot be resold.
The decision means that 700 new tickets for the July 27 match at the 34,500-seat Westpac Stadium in Wellington will now be issued and made available via the official online ticket office.
NZ Rugby warned some fans could be turned away when attempting to access the arena.
“Unfortunately, it is highly likely that some of these tickets will have already been on-sold to unknowing fans on the secondary market and those fans may only discover their tickets are invalid when they present them at the gate at Westpac Stadium,” said NZ Rugby’s chief commercial officer Richard Thomas.
“Our message to fans is that if you choose to buy All Blacks tickets on the secondary market through online resellers like Viagogo, you run a huge risk of not entering the venue or having to pay inflated prices for tickets.”
Officials said anyone concerned about the validity of their ticket is advised to contact NZ Rugby. Tickets were still being sold on Viagogo on Friday for up to £171.
NZ Rugby match tickets terms and conditions state: “It is an essential condition of issuance of tickets and the right of admission to the match conferred on the ticket holder that tickets must not be and have not been offered, provided, resold or transferred for a value greater than the original sale price; advertised or offered for resale or transfer on the internet or elsewhere.
“Tickets may only be purchased through NZR (directly or via the official appointed ticketing agents), official corporate hospitality agents and official travel agents appointed by NZR, or through any other sale or transfer mechanism authorised in writing by NZR.”
Image: David Molloy Photography
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