Music

Tragically Hip scalpers arrested in undercover police sting

by Jeremy Mersereau

Tragically Hip ticket scalpers have already been scammed by DJs, had their livelihoods threatened, and now they’re getting arrested in the streets.

A pair of scalpers were arrested in Winnipeg yesterday, after undercover police posed as a pair of Hip fans determined to score tickets to see the band one last time at the Peg’s MTS Centre tonight. Cut to: TRAINING ROOM, WINNIPEG DISTRICT 2 PRECINCT: “OK people, this is for all the marbles: in the summer of which year did Bill Barilko disappear?”

The undercover officers tracked the two scalpers online. Each Was selling a pair of floor tickets, asking for $800 and $680 respectively; they were both hit with a provincial offence notice for breaching Manitoba’s Amusement Act, which prohibits” the sale, barter, or exchange” of tickets to shows at a cost higher than their original price.

“A lot of people are passionate about this group,” said Winnipeg police Const. Rob Carver. “I think in this instance, we felt we had an obligation to address this, so while we don’t do this as a normal course, it was done in this case I think to send a message.”

Sadly, Carver also noted that police can do nothing concerning online ticket resellers who operate outside the golden wheat fields of Manitoba.

“We have jurisdictional issues, so if tickets are being sold out of the U.S. or out of the province, Winnipeg police don’t have the ability to lay charges in those types of investigations,” he said. Too bad… but your day will come, StubHub.

[H/T CBC]