When Rogue Productions and the Saint John Theatre Company announced their joint production of Come From Away, excitement swept through the province. Tickets sold out fast. Now, online resellers want you to pay up to 17 times the original price to see the show.

According to a recent report by CBC News, secondary market sites list tickets for the hit musical at staggering markups.

The High Cost of Resale

If you try to buy a ticket for the September 15 to 20 run at the Imperial Theatre in Saint John, you face a frustrating online landscape. Original tickets cost between $75 and $85. However, resale platforms like Event Tickets Center list seats for over $1,400 US. These resale sites spend heavily on Google search optimization. When you search for tickets, sponsored results push the official Imperial Theatre website down the page. You click the first link you see and end up on a secondary market site.

Speculative Selling and Social Media Scams

High prices are only part of the problem. Fredericton Playhouse executive director Tim Yerxa warns about speculative selling. In this scenario, a reseller lists a ticket they do not actually own. They take your money and then attempt to find a ticket to give you. They fail. They cancel your order at the last minute, leaving you without a seat.

Social media presents another trap. Fake bot accounts flood the comment sections of sold out events. They use pressure tactics to make you buy quickly. Organizers for events like the Shediac Renaissance Faire and the Harvest Music Festival constantly battle these fake listings. Buyers show up at the door with fake or duplicate tickets and get turned away.

How to Protect Your Purchase

The Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick does not regulate online ticket resellers. They advise you to check cancellation and reimbursement policies before you buy. Always purchase directly from the venue box office. If a show is sold out, call the venue and ask to join a waitlist. Venues facilitate returns and sell those tickets to waitlisted fans at face value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Come From Away tickets so expensive online?

Independent resellers buy tickets and list them on secondary market sites at massive markups. They set the prices based on high demand.

What is a speculative ticket?

A speculative ticket is a listing for a seat the seller does not yet own. They take your payment and attempt to source the ticket later. If they cannot find one, they cancel your order.

How can I safely buy tickets for local shows?

Always buy directly from the official venue website or box office. Watch out for sponsored Google search results that lead to resale sites, and avoid buying tickets from strangers in social media comment sections.