Ticket Brokers? Unthinkable?

[Enge]

I'm starting to get a bit desperate, and have been checking out the ticket brokers. I've not seen a thorough discussion anywhere else, so I thought I would pose the question of whether biting the bullet and paying the high ticket broker prices is the way to go.

Razorgator, for example, has tickets to every match. They have a link that pops up with the quote from the FIFA authorities saying that people buying from "unauthorized sources" risk not getting into the game. I think we are all aware that the tickets are supposed to be fan specific, with ID required to enter the stadium. Most brokers do not claim to be an authorized source, though. I assume the tickets will mostly have someone else's name on them, unless you happen to be named "Fritz Schmidt."

Although they have come up with a very complex ticket selling system to try to thwart the ticket scalpers, it does not seem to be working. Many people applied for multi game tickets, but got only one game. Some of them will not want to spend the money on the trip for only one game, so they will sell their ticket. Phase IV seems to reward those willing to spend their entire day hitting the refresh button, or those with the resources to develop software to alert them to a change in the ticket page. Whether intentional or not, the pros will get the tickets and the fans will not.

It's my guess that a high percentage of tickets are going to scalpers. Suppose 25% or so of the tickets are going to "unauthorized sources" and then being resold without redoing the name on the ticket. That means for any given game, you could have around 10,000 people who paid high rates for their tickets being left out on the streets if they enforce the rules. My guess is that this would not be a happy bunch.

Will the Germans really risk having thousands of angry fans hanging around outside their stadiums? Will they want images of people crying about being out thousands of dollars being beamed around the world on CNN, DW, and BBC? Oh, and by the way, the scalpers get their money anyway.

Common sense says no, but common sense would have dictated a simpler system in the first place.

In my own situation, I have tickets for the USA-Czech game. Because that is the first game, I will be able to see how the ID policy works in practice, and then make a decision.

Is anyone going to roll the dice with a broker, or is the consensus that it would be better to miss a game, but still have the money?

[Hosscat]

I'm starting to feel a bit desperate myself since I have 0 first round tix, but flights/hotels/etc are already booked.... I'm gonna see what happens with the FIFA return to the USSF before I bankrupt myself and go the brokers though.

FIFA's phase IV sale is complete horseshite and it hugely favors ticket brokers/though with better technology at their disposal- not to mention people with tons of spare time. Another lottery would have been much more fair to the real fans.

[Palermo10]

I originally went through a ticket broker, until I was lucky enough (well, I was at my computer 30 minutes before the clock struck 12 to get my application in) through USSF. I resold the ticket broker tickets (well, 2 of them, I have 3 friends using the others)

I have been told these tickets are corporate tickets and do not have names on them. I have also been told specifically that my tickets are guaranteed and that I will have tickets in my hand.

I also highly doubt the ID check. Even if they do, 1 in 10 would make more sense. Although it could be like the quick check in at the airport when they check your passport name with ticket...

[rksehga]

Enge, well though out. While speculating on the ticket-checking process, I think you need to consider the fact that FIFA has made it a clear goal that they want every seat filled at every match. They will likely not check the vast majority of tickets because they do not want to have empty seats. They will probably use their right to check tickets as a way to keep drunk and rowdy people out.

[RandyfromUS]

Enge, you do a great job of verbalizing what I was thinking. I can't imagine FIFA wanting to show the games worldwide with the stadiums at 75% of capacity.

Think of your wait in line at the airport when a wide body lands -- sometimes you wait 30 minutes or so to pass immigration (not customs) where passports are checked -- and that's usually no more than 2 or 3 jets with 600 people each on them (at my local airport). To get 50,000 people in a stadium with the same ID checking system would take all day, wouldn't it?

Of course, maybe that's wishful thinking on the part on any of us who still don't have tickets in our names for the games we really want to see.

[gngrasso]

I was lucky in USSoccer process and got US Italy tickets. If I didnt, however, I absolutely was going to buy from Razorgator. I've bought many concert tickets from them and find them 100% trustworthy.

As far as the authorities checking names, howver, I am not as optimistic as most.

First, much is being made in the German press about the German's fear of terrorism at the WC, and they are close to authorizing a mobilization of the German army for protective purposes. Since WWII it has been unconstitutional to use the german army in a domestic capacity.

Second, there is a 2 to 3 thousand person hooligan list of people they need to keep out of the stadiums.

It won't tak that much manpower (cops + army) to simply check IDs against tickets, probably takes 10 seconds per person.

Im not trying to rain on your parade and, as I said, I absolutely was going to scalp. But, be prepared for the worst ie 100% ID checks.