I'm curious on what number I should dial for tickets. I called MLS-FIRE today and here's my conversion(s). The ticket office opened at 10:00. At 10:01, I placed the call. guy: Chicago Fire. JDM: Hi, I'd like to get tickets for Saturday's game. guy: I'm sorry sir, we are sold out for Saturday. JDM: Don't you have any SRO available? guy: Um, ah, yeah, maybe we do. Let me put you on hold and find out. I'm discoed two mintues later. I call back, same guy. guy: Chicago Fire JDM: Yes, I like to order SRO for Saturday's game. guy: Ok, how many tickets do you need? JDM: I need four. guy: Oh, I'm sorry sir, I can't sell that over the phone. I can only sell 15 or more. JDM: Ok, can you xfer me to a dept that can sell me these tickets? guy: Uh, no. Where do you live? JDM: Elmhurst (I'm calling from work in Lisle) guy: Ok, you will need to come down to our box office to purchase the tickets. We are opened from 10-6. (I knew this already). JDM: Ok, thank you. (Discoed call) Since I work about five miles from NCC, I went and got the tickets on lunch. The fact I couldn't get tickets over the phone was quite distrubing.
I'm willing to bet that if you called every other pro franchise in Chicago and tried to order 4 tickets, every single one would refer you to Ticketmaster. In fact, the Fire's website specifies it as such... http://www.chicago-fire.com/tickets/tix_single.asp The guy on the phone should probably have known this, but the fact that you couldn't buy 4 tickets to a single game by calling the Fire does not surprise me in the least.
It's kind of hard to refer me to ticketmaster when they don't sell SRO. I've been told here the best way to buy tickets is to call the Fire, and not use ticketmaster.
I'm not 100% sure on this, but I believe there might be some sort of deal with Ticketmaster for exclusive rights to sell by phone. I tried calling for a game a few years back (it was either the Poi or Wilco post game concert), and my ticket rep told me if I wanted 5, I'd have to go throuigh TM unless I signed up for the voucher plan (which I did, and have done ever since). Of course, back then, sell-outs just didn't happen.
I'm bringing a friend for a third time, and her brothers are coming for the first time. They are 12 and 10. I want to actually want them to come back... Oh well, I got the tickets, so who cares. See you all Saturday.
If you live out of state it's really easy to get single game over the phone. Next time ask me and I'll call from New York. Of course you'll need my credit card and ID, so you might as well fly me out there while we're at it...
if i ever need extra i just call my season ticket guy and have it put on will call. it has never been a problem.
That's becasue that (calling up) is a perk of being a season ticket holder. Not so for the "unwashed" public.