The Stormers’ recent loss in the United Rugby Championship (URC) final has been overshadowed by a wave of complaints from disgruntled fans regarding ticketing issues.
Western Province Rugby (WP Rugby) and their ticketing partner, Ticketpro, are facing criticism for overbooking seats at the Cape Town Stadium, leading to multiple double and triple bookings.
There has been an outpouring of complaints on social media, with numerous fans expressing frustration. While WP Rugby acknowledges only a small number of double bookings, evidence suggests that the problem may be more extensive than initially indicated.
According to News24, Eugene Myburgh, a fan who attended the final, claimed that hundreds of people were left without seats due to Ticketpro’s mishandling of the situation. Myburgh stated that his own row had been triple-booked, with none of the claimants having legitimate tickets for the match.
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Ticketpro’s Facebook post warning fans against purchasing tickets from third-party vendors inadvertently became a platform for fans to vent their frustrations.
Users shared experiences identical to Myburgh’s. Some individuals even reported having double bookings for seven or more tickets. One fan highlighted that their seating had been allocated on two separate occasions, resulting in at least 21 people competing for the same seats.
The ticketing issue caused delays for some fans, leading them to miss the kick-off. Myburgh recounted that the overwhelmed on-site manager secluded himself in an office after being bombarded with inquiries.
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In response to the mounting complaints, WP Rugby assured fans that steps were being taken to address the situation. They emphasised that Ticketpro is actively investigating and following up on each case individually. Affected fans were advised to contact Ticketpro directly for assistance.
Despite the ticketing controversy, the URC final witnessed a record-breaking attendance of 56 344 spectators. The enthusiasm and support of the fans for the Stormers’ final appearance were marred by the unfortunate seating mishap that left many feeling disappointed and inconvenienced.
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