Tickets for both Australian Football League preliminary finals have sold out, "as frantic fans swooped on Monday in the hope of securing a coveted seat," according to Cherny & Cowie of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. More than 1,000 tickets every minute "were snapped up via the Ticketek website" for Richmond's first preliminary final in 16 years, "with some desperate fans forced to pay a premium through resellers after missing out." Such "was the demand," the AFL Fans Association said that tickets for Richmond's preliminary final against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday "were already being legally resold" for more than A$400 ($318). Standing room tickets were being resold on Viagogo for more than A$200 ($159). The issue of tickets being resold at prices well above face value "reared its head before the Tigers' qualifying final against Geelong, as well as their late-season game against the Cats" played at Simonds Stadium. Issues "were also reported about the slowness of the Ticketek website," where tickets went on sale to club members at 9am on Monday (SMH, 9/18).
