Orioles’ New Scalping System Not A Hit With Ticket Sellers

The Orioles’ new effort to curb ticket scalping by using team employees as deal brokers at Camden Yards’ scalp-free zone “has become more than a little frustrating for fans hoping to unload tickets at games,” according to Justin Fenton of the Baltimore SUN. Sellers are now kept behind a line, “unable to talk with prospective buyers until” an Orioles official calls them over to complete a deal. The team in May revamped the zone, “turning the fan-to-fan marketplace the gated area had been for nearly a decade into a makeshift ticket window.” Sellers have to register with two Orioles employees and “tell them how much they want for their tickets.” When a fan expresses interest in tickets after looking at a list at a table, another employee calls the seller over to broker a deal. Many buyers said that they “like the new rules” because the process is monitored by team officials. But sellers said that they “detest the new system.” Orioles Dir of Media Relations Bill Stetka added that the changes “are meant to make the process more convenient for fans” (Baltimore SUN, 8/14).

Orioles Getting Mixed Reviews For Anti-Scalping System At Camden Yards

STEEL CURTAIN: In Pittsburgh, Jeremy Boren reported the city reinstated a 690-square-foot ticket resale zone between PNC Park and Heinz Field for last night’s Eagles-Steelers preseason game “to allow ticket scalpers and regular fans to sell tickets legally to Pirates and Steelers games.” Steelers Exec Dir of Stadium Management Jimmy Sacco said that a team staff member would be present last night “to check tickets for authenticity.” Sacco: “This is the first time we’re doing this.” Sacco added that an off-duty police officer also would be stationed “to monitor ticket sales” (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 8/14).