Ticket tensions fan frustrations of Swans and GWS supporters for finals blockbuster
Sydney Swans and GWS Giants fans were left frustrated trying to secure tickets on Tuesday for next Saturday’s qualifying final at the SCG due to technical glitches.
Giants fans posted on social media about getting timed out of the site while waiting to buy tickets for the now sold-out match, and Swans fans faced challenges with their member barcodes not being recognised by Ticketek during the pre-sale for members.
The barcode issue lasted approximately twenty minutes, and some members said they were placed to the back of the digital queue due to the system glitch.
Asked about theissues with barcodes while trying to purchase tickets for the game, a Ticketek spokesperson said it could have been caused fans’ security settings.
“Today and yesterday’s on-sales have sold out with interest being at an all-time high. Fans were successfully able to transact without issues to secure tickets for week one of the AFL finals,” the spokesperson said.
“Occasionally, there is a small number of individuals whose security settings do not comply with our cyber protection rules.
“As we become aware of each case, we look to work with them to assist where possible. These issues are a direct result of the security protections we have in place to ensure all fans have a fair and equitable right to purchase tickets.
“We look forward to welcoming all fans to week one.”
Whether they win or lose against the Giants, the Swans are guaranteed at least another week of finals football at the SCG in either the preliminary final or the semi-final respectively, leading to fears that the technical issues could be repeated.
AFL Fans Association president Ron Issko received complaints from fans after the experience and believes that it is time for the AFL finals ticketing system, which is handled by Ticketek and Ticketmaster, to be reviewed.
“There just needs to be a complete overhaul of the Ticketek and Ticketmaster system to be tested on high-demand games and to be fixed so it can handle high-demand games, because at the moment every year we get the same story,” Issko said.
“It’s really disappointing for Sydney Swans fans and GWS fans; it’s also disappointing to promote the game in NSW.
“When it’s a sellout of the SCG or a high-demand game at the MCG, we get these hiccups, and I’m saying hiccups very, very generously, [it’s] a disaster really for some people, and [the systems] should be battle tested so they can withstand the high-demand games.”
It was announced on Wednesday that the Swans had sold out next Saturday’s game and could come close to their previous SCG attendance record set seven years ago against Essendon in 2017 when 46,323 fans crammed in for the first week of finals.
The Swans have also enjoyed their highest average attendance at the SCG this year. At 38,202 fans, it comfortably beat the next-highest figure of the 33,959 in 2018.
The Swans’ AFLW side are also on course to welcome a big crowd at North Sydney Oval on Friday evening for their season opener against Collingwood.
After reaching the finals for the first time last year, captain Chloe Molloy is looking forward to leading the team out against her former club at the venue where the Swans secured their first-ever win in the competition last year.
“The buzz at North Sydney Oval was insane,” Molloy said of that week one win over the Giants. “I still remember the goal that I kicked, and the crowd. I couldn’t believe it, and that’s coming from a Melburnian side to here; I’ve never heard a crowd so loud. It’s going to be huge. It’s a late one, so get there.”
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