From Deseret News archives:
Sundance flays online scalping
Festival is cracking down on resales on eBay, other sites
Sundance officials say they are "scanning eBay" and cracking down on ticket sales. Sundance warns that tickets resold online can be remotely deactivated before the film's showing.
"We've contacted those sellers and informed them of our policy and what actions we are taking," said Patrick Hubley, festival spokesman. "I wouldn't advise people to buy tickets off of eBay or any other site," except for the official Sundance site, Hubley said.
On Saturday afternoon, two tickets to the first screening of the movie "Waitress" staring Keri Russell, of television's "Felicity," sold for $385. About half an hour later the auction ended for a second pair of "Waitress" tickets for the same screening $255.
Sundance gives locals a shot at purchasing tickets before they go on sale nationally. It's an increasingly competitive process. More than 2,460 Utahns were selected at random for a chance to buy up to 20 tickets each at the locals-only sale.
It appeared some of the 293 entries under a search for "Sundance tickets" Saturday were trying to get around the reselling tickets prohibition. Several sellers were giving free tickets away with the purchase of festival venue instructions or a film guide.
Several venue instructions and film guides, which are both items given free to ticket holders, were selling for around $80 Saturday afternoon. A film guide for sale that would come with two "free" tickets to "Waitress" was going for $227, with bidding ending Sunday afternoon.
The Sundance Film Festival begins Thursday and runs through Jan. 28 with film screenings in Park City, Ogden, Sundance and Salt Lake City.
Remaining tickets are available for purchase online on the festival Web site. For those willing to stand in the cold, a few wait list tickets are available for most screenings.
On Jan. 29 and 30, Sundance presents free screenings for locals of films that won awards at the festival. Tickets to the "Best of Fest" screenings were available on a first-come, first-served basis Saturday and Sunday, with a two ticket per person limit.
Comments
- Oil falls below $79 7:53 a.m.
- Stocks open lower 7:53 a.m.
- Iranian Consulate fatally shot 7:49 a.m.
- AP poll: Family dinner survives 7:47 a.m.
- Palestinian election may be called off 7:45 a.m.
- Balloon boy parents to plead guilty 7:44 a.m.
- Intel to pay AMD $1.25B settlement 7:42 a.m.
- Jobless claims fall to 502K 7:40 a.m.
- Obama to want revised war options 7:39 a.m.
- Will state consider gay rights law? 7:11 a.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- Crash kills Utah County man
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Will state consider gay rights law?
- Long days for BYU interns
- House passes health care bill
287 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
250 - TCU showdown has big implications
194 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
101 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
95
This week, I'm compiling my annual list of restaurants serving...
I'm glad the U is looking into the allegations, it can't hurt. I'm hoping...
The best way for government to grow the economy is to get out of the way....
DON'T TELL US ABOUT IT. SHOW US IN THE NEXT THREE GAMES! LOSE TO UTAH AND...
Liberals and conservatives both are Keynesians who believe that saving money...
what if ... what if ... what if ... what if ... what if ... there are...
The sound of the wingnuts whining as they twist in the wind! There is...
I hear that Senator Chris Buttars is thinking of being a co-sponsor of the...
"I wouldn't mind them rebounding... There weren't any rules against them...
The solution is to get rid of the retirement plans that government offers....
I am not sure but I think a lot of these cases they are not putting money...


You can be the first to comment on this story.