Ticketek website crash leaves sports fans fuming

HIGH demand has once again crashed the Ticketek website, leaving furious sports fans venting after missing out on finals tickets.

Ticketek says its website is back up and running. Picture: Supplied

TICKET sales to the opening round of the AFL Finals have been suspended after another catastrophic episode involving Ticketek.

Fans took to social media to vent their fury over a major website meltdown which left many missing out on finals tickets.

The ticketing provider is selling tickets to three of the four first-week finals — Richmond v Hawthorn, Melbourne v Geelong and Sydney v GWS.

Members of the six clubs were told tickets would go on sale for their finals at 9am today. However, there was a painful 25-minute spell after the tickets supposedly went on sale when desperate fans were greeted with greeted with error messages.

A Ticketek spokesman took to Twitter claiming the issues had been addressed. “Hey guys, thanks for your patience,” he said. “Site is up and running. Thousands of fans are transacting right now.”

Hey guys, thanks for your patience. Site is up and running. Thousands of fans are transacting right now. #AFL

— Ticketek Australia (@Ticketek_AU) August 27, 2018

But shortly after the AFL revealed sales had been put on hold.

The general public onsale period will now be delayed and we will communicate a new onsale time.

— AFL (@AFL) August 28, 2018

Several of the clubs involved also attempted to ease the concerns of their supporters.

We understand our members are frustrated with this process. Please know there are still tickets available and we will communicate the selling of tickets to members as soon as we get an update from both the @AFL and @Ticketek_AU.
We appreciate your patience at this time.

— Richmond FC 🐯 (@Richmond_FC) August 28, 2018

The General Public on-sale, originally scheduled for 2pm, has been postponed.

We will bring you more once we have an update from Ticketek.

— Melbourne FC (@melbournefc) August 28, 2018

The General Public on sale will be postponed. We will communicate more information, when it becomes available.

We know you are all very keen to get tickets and we appreciate your patience at this time!

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) August 28, 2018

To deal with the meltdown the ticketing website initally told fans not to refresh the queue page.

“Thousands of fans are online to get tickets right now. Hold tight, you’re in the queue. Please DO NOT refresh this page,” one of the messages read as fans first attempted to purchase tickets.

However, hundreds on social media say they were then shown another message after waiting patiently as the website had instructed them to do.

“Sorry … There was a problem processing your request. Please close your browser and try again,” the error message read.

Ticketek once again surprised people want to purchase tickets.

— Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily) August 27, 2018

I had chosen tickets, entered payment details, hit enter and now find myself back at the front of the queue. Absolutely abysmal Ticketek. Well done on stuffing this up

— Brett Paton (@Brett_Paton) August 27, 2018

@Ticketek_AU why are you so crap at providing the service you're meant to provide?

— Chaplain Louis (@HardLefts) August 27, 2018

Dismayed at the constant error messages, disgruntled sports fans took aim at the ticket giant on social media.

“Frustrating thing is I’ve made it to the processing payment screen twice which is where it’s failed,” one angry customer wrote.

“You’re a joke of a league.....ticketek crashing again … same as every year … amateur league,” wrote another.