Photo by ISIphotos.com
If you find yourself repeatedly checking the internet, waiting anxiously for any word on when tickets for the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier in Columbus, Ohio will go on sale, don't worry. You are not alone.
Tickets for the Feb. 11 match have yet to go on sale and no announcement has been made yet as to when tickets would go on sale.
Fans are being warned to be careful about where they go looking for tickets. This warning comes after tickets showed up on the popular ticket re-selling site Stub Hub for the Feb. 11 qualifier. With prices ranging from $400 to $2,500 for a single ticket, scalpers may be looking to take advantage of the frenzy over the qualifier.
The only problem is, according to U.S. Soccer, no tickets have been made available to anybody yet.
'We have not made an announcement yet regarding when ticket sales will be open for the match against Mexico on Feb. 11, but are looking to do so soon," U.S. Soccer Director of Communications Neil Buethe told SBI. "The only tickets that a fan can buy and be certain that they are legitimate are those purchased through TicketMaster.
"Fans that are finding tickets being sold on any other location should beware they may not be valid."
U.S. Soccer had no explanation for the tickets being sold on Stub Hub, but is investigating the matter.
While you still can't buy match tickets, you can go ahead and start booking your flights for the latest installment of 'La Guerra Fria'.
What do you think of the prices being asked on StubHub? Would you consider paying that much? Think the ticket scam is the work of the Columbus Crew as they try to raise money to pay Guillermo Barros Schelotto's new DP contract?
Share your thoughts below.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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My weak and frail heart takes issue with the fact the word "NOT" was eight words into this post's title.
But seriously, thanks for the update, Ives
Posted by: Unoriginal Aaron | January 05, 2009 at 01:37 PM
Love to book my flight..but you i kinda want to know i have a ticket to the supporters end first. Why the undue delay by US Soccer the match is 5 weeks out?
Posted by: sack | January 05, 2009 at 01:42 PM
StubHub allows a seller to list tickets they do not have in hand yet.
Because of this, all that is happening is that ticket brokers are trying to short sell for this game on the assumption that comparable tickets purchased later will be lower priced; even if bought on the secondary market to fill their order. If their assumption is right, they make a nice payday. If their assumption is wrong, and they end up have to pay more for comparable tickets after the on-sale, they lose money.
StubHub also has a fan protection guarantee. If the buyer doesn't come through StubHub will provide equal or better seats at no charge or refund your money.
Posted by: Mike D | January 05, 2009 at 01:51 PM
No one loves watching the USMNT live more than I, but $400-$2,500?!?! Even it those were legitimate tickets on sale, I'd have to settle for watching on the plasma screen at home. I wouldn't pay those prices for anything less than the World Cup.
Posted by: Cam | January 05, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Count me among those who check the US Soccer website every day to see if tickets are on sale yet. How hard do you think they will be to get?
Posted by: Gage | January 05, 2009 at 02:00 PM
stub hub tends to leave off the specific locations.. then purchase X amount of tickets they've already sold...
its a Low-Risk form of scalping.... sell 25 tickets in advance, purchase 30 all together, leaving you with only 5 tickets to sell rather then buying a set amount of tickets and hoping you sell them...
Posted by: brett | January 05, 2009 at 02:00 PM
Just thinking out loud here... could the delay be to prevent Mexican fans from making the trip? My logic being, the longer the delay, the more difficult to make plans on short notice. This could backfire on US fans as well, but then they have a shorter distance to travel in theory.
Posted by: soapbox derby | January 05, 2009 at 02:03 PM
If you guys are on the US Soccer mailing list, you'll get the heads up as soon as they announce the dates for ticket sales, so don't sweat it.
See y'all in Columbus for the match.
Posted by: Al17 | January 05, 2009 at 02:49 PM
Tickets will go on sale next week...that's according to my account rep who reminded me that I need to renew my season tickets if I want to be able to buy US-Mexico tix before they go on sale to the general public.
Posted by: Frank | January 05, 2009 at 02:53 PM
There can't be that much demand for this game.
Posted by: Chris | January 05, 2009 at 03:57 PM
Why is US Soccer delaying the sale of tickets for this game? It's only 5 weeks away and they haven't even announced the kick-off time
Posted by: David Wilson | January 05, 2009 at 03:58 PM
Do Columbus season ticket holders get the right to buy their season ticket seat location? Might someone be banking on that?
Posted by: Haig | January 05, 2009 at 03:59 PM
so i guess this clears up that question.. Jack Warner DOES have a Stub Hub account
Posted by: Brandon | January 05, 2009 at 04:06 PM
"There can't be that much demand for this game."
Are you being sarcastic? The last two WQC's against Mexico in Columbus sold out in ONE hour.
Posted by: M | January 05, 2009 at 04:09 PM
What is the face value of the tickets going to be?
Posted by: Steve | January 05, 2009 at 04:35 PM
Haig, based on past experience the answer is yes.
Posted by: Frank | January 05, 2009 at 04:50 PM
I talked to my contact down at crew stadium and he informed me that tickets will go to clubs and other organizations before being sold to the general public. He told me that only season ticket holders for the crew can be guaranteed tickets.
Posted by: Brock | January 05, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Probably to prevent Mexicans coming in droves. If the tickets are readily available to the public at the stadium box office and cheap, you can bet your ass that there will be more Mexicans then Americans.
Posted by: Nick | January 05, 2009 at 05:20 PM
US Soccer needs to get its act together. They can at least tell the public when they expect that tickets will go on sale.
Posted by: DeliBelly | January 05, 2009 at 05:35 PM
Somebody is pulling Stubhub's leg because sec 137 Does not Exist anymore, that is where the new stage is.
Posted by: Patrick | January 05, 2009 at 07:42 PM
Can anyone confirm that the tickets sold on stubhub are from Alex Lalas ?
Posted by: Eric Sornoso | January 05, 2009 at 08:54 PM
Everyone needs to do a little more searching, there is a place to get tickets now. And there is a reason US Soccer is being secretive - jeez, I wonder why? Maybe because El Tri fans buy a lot of tickets.
Posted by: FCU | January 05, 2009 at 11:34 PM
I got mine as well.
We want as many US fans at this game.
Chase
SCB
Posted by: Chase | January 06, 2009 at 02:56 AM
i used to be on an email list for tickets to MNT games. Haven't got one in a while. I have seen two WCQ games at Crew stadium, in 01/02. Costa Rica and Mexico. I hope to get some for this game, but I could not pay the Stub Hub prices. I wish there were a clearer system for buying them.
Posted by: BlueWhiteLion | January 06, 2009 at 11:18 AM
I received emails for the Sweden match but not Mexico. However one of the NY/NJ supporters group did contact me last night via email
Posted by: gerald | January 06, 2009 at 12:24 PM
I would not pay the StubHub prices but i am defenitely wanting to get the tickets. I wish they would hurry up as I will need to fly in for it.
Posted by: soccerroo | January 06, 2009 at 02:57 PM
ya same with me soccerroo, i'm flying in from California and cant book my plane or anything, i wish there would just be a formal announcement from the US soccer fed. regarding when ticket sales
Posted by: DC488 | January 06, 2009 at 03:03 PM
i got my ticket!!! woot woot
Posted by: BoRiUaNo616 | January 07, 2009 at 09:53 AM
How did you get your ticket??? There not on sale. If they are, please let me know where :)
Posted by: Mike | January 08, 2009 at 12:17 PM