Ticket snafu snares Kingston
All tickets for game against Mount Vernon sold before school district officials expected them to be available
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Fans of Kingston High’s boys basketball team could be left out in the cold for today’s state playoff game against Section 1’s Mount Vernon at the Kate Walton Field House after Kingston School District officials said tickets were sold to the public the night before they expected them to go on sale and that the contest was sold out.
In a statement on the Kingston School District website Thursday morning, district officials said they communicated to the public that tickets for the Class AAA playoff game at 4:30 p.m. today would go on sale at 9 a.m. Thursday through GoFan, the third-party ticketing service for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA).
“However, GoFan made the tickets available last night (Wednesday) at 7:30 p.m. without informing the KCSD (Kingston Central School District), and now they are sold out,” the statement read. “We are extremely disappointed by this mistake and the confusion it has caused our students, families, and community members. Please know that we have brought this issue to GoFan to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”
Though the statement said the game was sold out, Kingston officials said “any tickets remaining unsold” will go on sale at 9 a.m. today, just 7 1/2 hours before the start of the Class AAA playoff game.
To access any available tickets, district officials said to visit the GoFan website. When the Freeman visited the GoFan website mid-afternoon Thursday, it said no tickets were available for today’s game.
For those fans who can’t attend the Kingston game, school district officials said it will be carried on the NFHS network at https:// www.nfhsnetwork.com.
“Despite the unexpected ticketing situation, we urge all students to rally behind the Tigers and show their support for tomorrow’s KHS Boys Varsity Basketball Class AAA State Tournament game,” the Kingston school district statement continued. “Whether you secure tickets or watch the live stream, your encouragement makes a difference. Let’s unite as a school community and cheer on our Tigers to victory! Go Tigers!”
The ticket snafu comes less than a week after Kingston High coach Ron Kelder said he was “confused” why the top-seeded Tigers were scheduled to face No. 3
seed Monroe-Woodbury on its home court for the Section 9 Class AAA championship game on Saturday.
A Facebook campaign by supporters of the Kingston basketball team urged residents to send letters to the Section 9 Boys Basketball Committee asking the committee to change the site of the Kingston/Monroe-Woodbury game to a neutral court.
No action was taken by the Section 9 committee and Kingston defeated Monroe-Woodbury 55-51 in overtime to earn a trip to the regional finals against Mount Vernon. The winner of today’s game will earn a trip to the NYSPHSAA Final Four at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls.
Kingston athletic director Rich Silverstein and Kelder both declined to comment on the ticketing issue for today’s game when contacted by the Freeman.