Power fans fume at inconsistent Ticketek opening hours to buy Port v Sydney preliminary final tickets

Passionate Power fans lined up bright and early at the Entertainment Centre Ticketek stall, only to find it opened at 11am despite tickets being released online at 9.30am.

Port Adelaide faithfuls lining up for tickets to this Friday’s preliminary final against Sydney have been left frustrated by, and hit out at, inconsistencies in Ticketek opening hours.

Over the past fortnight, hoards of fans have lined up at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre Ticketek box from the early hours of the morning to secure tickets to the Power’s home finals.

Passionate fans lined up for the third week in a row on Monday morning in the hope of securing a ticket to Friday night’s match in Sydney – only to be forced to wait until well after tickets had gone on sale.

While the booth’s opening hours are clearly displayed as 11am-4pm, in the past two weeks it opened earlier to cater for long lines of Port supporters.

“We have come here early to get tickets and they’re not open,” Port fan Kerry Coleman, who had been lining up since 6am, said.

“It’s 10 o’clock now and they’re still not open.”

According to a Ticketek worker, the earlier opening times over the past fortnight were because Port’s two prior finals games were played at Adelaide Oval and there was greater demand.

This was little comfort for passionate Port fans on Monday, who believed the booth should have opened at 9.30am – the same time tickets were released online for Port members.

“Ticketek have a lot to answer for,” Ms Coleman said.

“Paying online is good for a lot of people but not necessarily us, we don’t do it all the time so it can be frustrating,” fellow fan and retiree, Chris Prior added.

Power fan Kerry Coleman lined up at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Monday only to discover it didn’t open until 11am. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

While waiting for the Ticketek stall to open, Ms Coleman and Mr Prior were both attempting to purchase tickets online.
Ms Coleman had already booked and paid for her airfare and accommodation in Sydney so said she found it “frustrating” when the Ticketek website would not accept her card.

“I managed to get tickets and then they were not accepting my credit card,” Ms Coleman said.

“So now I am back in the queue.”

After waiting with fingers crossed Ms Coleman was thrilled when her friend rang to inform her she had managed to buy tickets for their group.

“My friend has got tickets on the wing and that’s where we wanted – I’m a happy girl” Ms Coleman said.

“It is not about the money for me it is about going to support my boys.”

Ms Coleman was excited when her friend managed to get her a ticket online. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Mr Prior was unsuccessful with purchasing tickets online as his credit card was blocked multiple times.

The Port fan, who arrived at the Entertainment Centre at 4am, managed to secure his seat to the game once the box office opened just before 11am.

“Well I guess you don’t ring on Sunday to ask if you’re going to be open at 9.30 in the morning when the tickets go on sale Australia-wide, so it was a bit disappointing and other people expected the same sort of thing,” Mr Prior said.

“We have a system that is not working with Ticketek so eventually we will try to sort something out because it is frustrating.

“I am just excited to go to a travel agent now and see if I can get to Sydney without having to drive there.”

Limited tickets are still available to the blockbuster match, the winner of which will play in the Grand Final at the MCG on Saturday, September 28.