Big Bash League club Brisbane Heat officials uncovered a major BBL ticket scalping racket "designed to rip off fans this summer," according to Robert Craddock of the Brisbane COURIER-MAIL. Angry cricket officials launched an "extensive investigation after a sudden spike of ticket sales" was detected, including more than 2,000 to early-season Heat games at the Gabba bought in lots of 10 from a Melbourne-based IP address. There are fears thousands more tickets have been purchased for Heat games, and other likely sold-out Big Bash matches involving other teams, "for the purposes of re-selling them illegally through websites such as the controversial Geneva-based Viagogo or Ticketmaster Resale." Both Viagogo and Ticketmaster Resale have extensive tickets for sale for Big Bash games this summer "even though they only went officially on sale" on Oct. 4. Heat GM Andrew McShea said that ticket-buyers should only purchase from the official team ticketing agency, Ticketek, and "not risk falling victim to unscrupulous re-sellers." McShea: "It is not uncommon for the same ticket to be sold several times over on unofficial websites, ensuring disappointment in the end for the buyers who have been duped." He added that fans who "have any concerns about the legitimacy of their tickets" can contact Ticketek through their social channels or website. It is illegal for events at major Queensland stadiums to resell or buy a ticket at a price greater than 10% above the original ticket price (COURIER-MAIL, 10/18).
