There is fierce competition for your dollars when you are shopping online and that includes tickets to performances. If you have ever searched on Google for that item you saw at the department store last night or the new product you heard about on the radio, you have seen how many different retailers will pop up in your results, all vying for your purchase.

At Chandler Center for the Arts, our Box Office staff are seeing where this competition has resulted in our loyal patrons purchasing tickets from third-party ticket sellers at inflated prices. These ticket sellers spend a lot of money to ensure they have advertisements that place them at the top of a web search with website names that can be deceiving.

In the state of Arizona, these online ticket scalpers are legal and able to sell tickets online. The competition they create is seen as part of a free marketplace that supports entrepreneurship and the ability for buyers to purchase from a vendor of their choice.

For patrons who may not be aware of additional ticket sellers online, the results may be tickets purchased at two to three times their value.

“It’s pretty scary,” says Larry Barkan, Box Office Associate. “We have talked to patrons who thought they were purchasing tickets from us, but instead were on a bogus site. They go on excited to get tickets to their favorite show, complete their purchase with their credit card, and then come to the Center with tickets that are not legitimate.”

Chandler Center for the Arts, like many other venues around the country are battling third party ticket sellers by ensuring our website is clear and concise, putting out digital advertising, providing information to Google on all of our shows and informing our patrons so they can be savvy online consumers.  

Here are tips from Box Office Supervisor Sam Ruiz to ensure you are purchasing valid tickets at Chandler Center for the Arts:

• Purchase tickets at chandlercenter.org. If you purchase tickets on your phone or tablet, bookmark the website so it is there whenever you need it.
• Tickets can also be purchased on Ticketmaster. Their Verified Resale process is a vetted and safe site to go if you are looking for resale tickets for a sold-out performance at CCA.
• Call the CCA box office – (480) 782-2680. We are always happy to answer questions and help you purchase tickets over the phone.
• Visit the CCA box office in person. The box office is open Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Saturday, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. We are also open on performance nights.
• Read the fine print. If you knowingly decide to purchase tickets on a third-party site, read the fine print. Unfortunately, the CCA will not able to assist you if you lose your ticket or if you are sold a ticket that isn’t legitimate. You also won’t receive any announcements about cancellations or other pertinent information about a show.

We strive to create an experience for our patrons that is worry-free and memorable. If you should ever come to a site that is selling tickets for a performance at the CCA and you aren’t sure whether it can be trusted, call us. We are here to help.