The Minnesota Twins are playing the first games in their new, outdoor stadium this week, and the team is warning fans that the excitement surrounding the new Target Field could bring out ticket scammers.
In a report by WCCO-TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Kevin Smith, director of public affairs for the team, said unfortunately ticket cheats are common. “You are taking your experience and money into your own hands by buying it from somebody who’s trying to scam you, and I’m telling you, there are people out there who will do it.”
The team is opening their new ballpark this week with a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
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Team officials recommend avoiding street scalpers, but the report states that if a fan decides to take such a route, they should consider taking a picture with the scalper as evidence for police if they are swindled.
If a game is sold out, the other obvious way to avoid being scammed is to buy tickets from a reputable ticket broker. In Boston, for example, Red Sox fans have grown accustomed to buying and selling their extra tickets through various resale outlets but particularly Ace Ticket and StubHub, which recently signed a deal with the Sox, both of which are now the team’s authorized ticket resellers.
“For someone who wants to be confident that the ticket they’re buying is good, come to Ticket King or come to a reputable reseller,” Brian Obert, owner of Minneapolis-based Ticket King, told WCCO.
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