Mr. Miller's BLOG

Ticket Dilemma
Posted on October 7, 2009

Whenever tickets go on sale to a big event, most people seem to have a feeling of enthusiasm; the excitement of knowing they're getting the first shot at the best seats to what guarantees to be a good time. Whether they're hitting the redial button on their phone or the refresh button on their browser, the moment a connection is made, anticipation goes up 10-fold.

Tickets for all home games for the Chicago Blackhawks went on sale at 10 a.m. I sat at my computer, two browsers open, waiting for the clock to turn. In order to prevent any possible problems, I was already logged into my Ticket Master account with a verified credit card and billing address. My email address for confirmation was updated as well.

I haven't missed a home opener in about 15 years and this year was to be no different.

Despite the fact that the organization no longer allowed ticket plan holders to purchase additional tickets prior to them going on sale to the public, I was still pumped.

Even though McEgo's annual price increase was in effect - my hopes were as high as ever.

Within :20 seconds, I in.

Two tickets in the 300 level please. - Sorry, no exact matches were found, but other tickets may still be available.

No problem. How about the 200 level? - Sorry, no exact matches were found, but other tickets may still be available.

Was I to understand that both the 200 and 300 level were sold out in less than 60 seconds? It couldn't be.

Best available? - Two seats, $110 each.

Going back to the upper bowl, I was only able to find SRO (Standing Room Only) but no actual seats. Twenty plus minutes into the process, fearing I might be shut out all together, I got the SRO seats for $25 a pop (plus fees).

Fifteen years and counting.

A co-worker tells me that he just went online and got six 300-level seats for Saturday's game.

Here are six fair-weather fans merely looking for last-minute plans for a Saturday night. On a whim they think: "Hey! Let's go to the 'Hawks game!".

Me.

• A long time ticket plan holder
• Attends 15 to 20 games a season
• Proposed to his wife down by the ice; had a Blackhawk themed wedding
• Named his only two sons after Blackhawk legends
• Runs a website for Blackhawk fans

My co-worker

• "Dude! What are you doing this Saturday night?"

For years, decades even, complaints were rampant that the organization didn't care about winning or the fans.

Well. At least they seem to care about winning now.

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