Many Ed Sheeran fans were already unhappy about not being able to buy tickets to his two sold-out concerts here, and scalpers trying to make big bucks by reselling them at astronomical prices.
Now a Carousell user has alleged that a staff member of the Singapore Sports Hub bought 220 tickets to Sheeran's sold-out concerts in November so that he could resell them.
The 24-year-old student, who goes by the name Aida Aretha on Facebook, posted screenshots of a conversation on the online marketplace where another user was selling Category 1 tickets at $1,100 a pair. The tickets, released by ticketing agency Sports Hub Tix, originally cost $248 each.
In the screenshots, the seller says his friend is in the Sports Hub management and bought 220 tickets - 100 tickets for the Nov 11 concert, and 120 for the Nov 12 concert. The seller claimed he had 24 tickets and was keeping two for himself.
Addressing the allegation of how a staff member may have got his hands on 220 tickets, the Singapore Sports Hub told The Sunday Times: "We are conducting an investigation into, and speaking with the relevant authorities about, these allegations."
The Sports Hub said it does not allow in-house bulk buys by staff.
Ms Aida also told The Sunday Times that she was not fully convinced of the seller's claims but she felt she needed to expose him. "Whether he was telling the truth or just fooling around with me, I didn't really care," she said.
"It was more of how we can prevent such things from happening."
Although she managed to get tickets online from Sports Hub Tix, the high asking price of $1,100 had caught her eye when she was scrolling through Carousell.
"I really felt bad for those who never got their tickets and to see these scalpers making use of such opportunities to earn. So I decided to just call him out," she said on why she engaged the seller.
ST reported on Friday that Category 1 tickets were going for up to $13,516.17 each on online ticket marketplace Viagogo, some 54 times more than its original price.
Concert organisers have previously voided tickets that were resold online at inflated prices.
In November last year, Coldplay concert organiser Live Nation Lushington voided "a number of tickets" found on the resale market, and said reselling the tickets contravenes its terms and conditions.
Concert promoter for Ed Sheeran's shows, AEG Presents, previously said that "unlawful resale (or attempted unlawful resale) of a ticket would lead to seizure or cancellation of that ticket without refund or other compensation".
They could not comment by press time yesterday. The Sunday Times understands that there will be multiple layers of investigations by the Sports Hub - internally, with partners and with external agencies.
Sports Hub senior director for corporate communications and stakeholder management Chin Sau Ho said: "We have systems and checks in place to identify any breach of policy by staff or partners. Appropriate action will be taken against any party found guilty of offence."
When asked if they would void tickets bought on the resale market, the Sports Hub said it was only addressing queries on the 220 tickets. They also reiterated that no resellers have been authorised to sell tickets for this show. Mr Chin said: "Sports Hub urges the public not to purchase tickets other than through official channels as these may not be accepted at the venue."
