Tickets to the second edition of the T-Pop sporting event OlymPop were snapped up in four hours, but not everyone was happy.
Many inter fans were left empty-handed, after ticket sales, which kicked off at 10am on 1 February, prioritised local buyers.
The local ticket sales – meant only for holders of a Thai national ID – lasted between 10am and 3pm, with global ticket sales (for all other fans) meant to start at 4pm.
However, at around 2.18pm – two hours before global ticket sales start – organisers said all tickets had been sold out.
This meant that the global ticket sales would not take place, leaving many inter fans without any tickets.
The situation left many fans in disappointment and frustration, having also dealt with a ticketing system shutdown earlier in the day (owing to a server overload).
On social media, inter fans expressed their dismay at the way ticket sales were handled.
Organisers had earlier disclosed – as part of ticketing rules – that there would be no global ticket sales if all tickets were sold out in the local sales. Still, many hoped that there would be tickets left for inter fans to purchase.
One X user from Indonesia told ChaPop they “didn’t agree” with the ticketing system, adding: “I knew that people who bought the ticket without the intention of attending would sell it at a much higher price.”
The fan also learnt, through a mutual, that the ticketing system had been implemented before, but that tickets were non-transferable (unlike the current tickets).
On social media, several screenshots showed scalpers allegedly selling tickets at more than twice the actual cost.
Other fans from Europe, Australia, and the Philippines, called out organisers for not allocating tickets to inter fans.
Some had already made travel plans to Thailand, with the expectation of being able to secure tickets.
Organisers have not addressed the issue yet, though fans have called on them to consider creating a livestream of the event.
This year’s OlymPop will take place on 9 May at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
