Scalpers spark fury over $425 preliminary final tickets

RIP-OFF merchants have refused to be deterred by South Australia’s Major Events Act, slugging diehard Cats fans more than $400 for tickets to Friday’s preliminary final clash against the Crows.

It comes despite the state’s highly touted laws making it illegal for scalpers to sell tick- ets at mark-ups of greater than 10 per cent in the secondary market.

The cutthroat clash at Adelaide Oval was declared a sellout after only several hours, leaving droves of Geelong supporters without a seat.

In one instance, a seller was advertising eight tickets on Adelaide Oval’s The Hill at $425 each.

After narrowly missing out on tickets, Cats fanatic Greg Norman says he and his daughter Millie discovered “ridiculously expensive” tickets on resale website Viagogo.

“It’s not fair that people are exploiting fans for their own money-making rackets,” Mr Norman said.

“All we wanted to do was watch the Cats, but I can’t afford $400 each.”

He is hopeful the scalpers will be fined — or even charged — under SA Government law.

“They’re prohibited from doing it but they’ve gone and done so anyway,” he said.

At present, only the AFL Grand Final is fully covered by Victoria’s version of tough anti-scalping legislation.

Sports Minister and Lara MP John Eren said the Government was considering options to broaden the Major Sporting Events Act to give fans of all types a fairer go.

“No one should be trying to make a profit by exploiting passionate fans desperate to see their team play in September,’’ Mr Eren said.

“We urge everyone to only buy tickets from authorised sellers — it’s the only way to ensure you’re not getting ripped off.”

While some lambasted Ticketek and fleecers, others have blamed Adelaide Oval’s capacity — sitting about 53,500 — for snubbing up to 30,000 fans.

“They wouldn’t let us play a home final in Geelong and forced us to play at the MCG, but they won’t do it now,” said supporter Ranuk Jamal, from Highton.

“It’s a double standard.”