Tragically Hip fans hit pre-sale troubles, complain of hiked prices on StubHub

TORONTO – Tickets for the Tragically Hip’s summer tour are already causing tension — and they haven’t even gone on sale to the public yet.

Within moments of a fan club pre-sale being launched on Monday morning many Hip fans found tickets were no longer available.

And it didn’t take long before the highly sought after tickets began popping up on secondary resale sites and classified ad sites for significantly marked up prices.

Some fans questioned how the tickets — which required buyers to use a code to complete a purchase — could turn up for resale within minutes. Others lamented that concerts that were raising money for charity were being exploited by scalpers.

“Did ANYONE get Tragically Hip presale tickets? Were there like, 10 released???” asked Twitter user Donna D. shortly after tickets disappeared.

“This is insane. Scalpers win, fans LOSE.”

Another user named Mad Mac tweeted about scoring two seats but still wasn’t impressed with how many tickets made their way to the popular website StubHub.

“Makes no sense how StubHub can clean out tix like that & charge outrageous prices!”

A representative for the company did not immediately respond to requests for comment but a statement was posted online after Hip fans complained about the quick sell-out.

“Over the years, StubHub has donated nearly $2 million in support of charitable benefit events like this one and in support of the artists and the charitable intent of this event, we are pleased to make a donation to the Sunnybrook Foundation as well,” StubHub said in the statement.

“As a free and open marketplace, StubHub is committed to ensuring fans have access to buy and sell tickets to the events they want to see.”

Frustrated fans also noted that StubHub was offering what some suspected to be fake tickets for the Winnipeg show.

Seats were being sold on the company’s website for sections behind the stage at the MTS Centre, which according to Ticketmaster is not open for the concert.

The pre-sale complications are likely a sign of frustrations to come as Hip fans pursue one of the hottest concert tickets of the summer.

The seminal Canadian band, which announced last week that lead singer Gord Downie is facing incurable brain cancer, will play 15 shows across parts of the country during a month-long stretch from late July to August.

The Tragically Hip made an effort to meet some of the intense demand by adding another four dates to their summer tour on Monday, in cities where they already have scheduled concerts.

The additional dates will be in Vancouver (July 26), Edmonton (July 30), Calgary (Aug. 3) and Toronto (Aug. 14).

The newly added dates will go on pre-sale to fan club members on Tuesday morning.

Tickets for all shows are on sale to the public on Friday through Ticketmaster and its partners.

The tour is in support of the Hip’s upcoming album “Man Machine Poem,” due for release on June 17.

Downie’s doctor told reporters last week that the 52-year-old performer has been cleared for the shows, but will be closely monitored to avoid exhaustion and other health issues that could emerge on the road.

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