Final batch of Grand Prix race day general admission tickets sold out within 24 hours
The last race day tickets to Melbourne Grand Prix have sold out and fans are unhappy at the “scam” process used by Ticketmaster.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Race day tickets to the Melbourne Grand Prix have sold out for a second time, hours after the final remaining batch of passes to the Formula One event went on sale.
The Herald Sun last week revealed thousands of previously sold out tickets to the Albert Park race would go on sale after organisers reconfigured general admission areas and found space for more fans.
But on Thursday morning, within 24 hours of the tickets going on sale, general admission allocations for Sunday, April 2 had been exhausted.
It means the only way you can now get a ticket to the race is to buy a four-day pass.
Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Andrew Westacott said it was a reflection of the surging popularity of the event.
“Sunday single tickets are completely gone – no more available,” he said.
“The four-day ticket is the only option if you expect to come along on the Sunday.”
Some fans who scored the last batch of race day tickets were upset they paid more than the $110 face value, with variable pricing used by Ticketmaster charging up to $164.
One fan described it as “a scam”.
“Log on for a GA ticket at $110 – none left,” he said.
“Log on GA ticket $140 – got one. Log on again to get one … $164. How can a GA ticket keep going up in price?”
Mr Westacott confirmed there were “some variances and increases”.
“The small amounts of tickets we released when compared to the overall sum that we are going to have, there were components of the tickets that were dynamically priced,” he said. “Unlike some events, we capped those up to a maximum increase of 50 per cent of the normal face value of the ticket price.”
The four-day tickets are also subject to variable pricing.
Crowds at each day of this year’s event will be capped at 130,000 fans.
VCE students burn books in fiery end to controversial exam period
Year 12 students have set fire to their uniforms and books while lashing out at the exam authority following the leaked questions scandal.
Final moments of slain teen captured on CCTV, police allege
The final moments of Isla Bell’s life were captured on CCTV through the window of her accused killer’s apartment before her body was put in a fridge, police allege.