On Thursday, May 17th, I had tickets (purchased through Ticketmaster) to see the Stars On Ice show at Rogers Arena. Upon entry into the venue, I went to my assigned section, but my seats were no where to be found - Row 1, Seats 106 and 107. I immediately asked the Rogers Arena attendant for help, and even she couldn’t figure it out, so she took me to Guest Services. At some point either Rogers Arena or Ticketmaster (they’re both blaming each other) decided to change the seating arrangements by removing seats 105 all the way through to 112, meaning myself and 7 others had no where to sit.
Once at Guest Services, they looked into the issue but had no explanation as to why mine and 7 other seats were suddenly non-existent. Instead, all they could offer me was seating higher-up and in a different section, to which I initially declined. I paid for 1st row and wasn’t willing to sit in a section that was not only worse, but likely no where near the same dollar mark as to what I paid for my tickets. Guest Services then called a supervisor and he immediately took me down to the Ticketmaster box office located inside the arena. They were initially going to bring more folding chairs to my section, but it was discovered that there would be no room for them to do so, and they again offered me different seats in a different section and row. Needless to say, I was not very happy, but as it was nearing the start of the show I had no choice but to take them.
I was accompanied to my new section (106, Row 9) by the supervisor, and he asked if myself and my companion were happy. I told him no, and that was when he offered us compensation: Free food. I looked at him and laughed. Free food was all he could offer us when I initially paid for first row seats?! I scoffed at the suggestion. Another individual whom worked for Rogers Arena came to check on us a few minutes later to make sure we were satisfied, and I verbalized just how unhappy I was. “Unfortunately this sometimes happens,” was their response. (So apparently this is a common occurrence at Rogers Arena!) He eventually left, as I had no interest in speaking to him if they weren’t going to make the situation right by giving me exactly what I paid for, and instead of enjoying the show as much as I could and should have, I found myself wanting to leave.
I have since reached out to both Rogers Arena and Ticketmaster via e-mail and telephone for an explanation as to what happened, but have yet to hear back. As such, I have filed a dispute for my original tickets with American Express to have the charge reversed, and I have a few other things in the works, too, but nothing I will disclose publicly as to give Rogers Arena or Ticketmaster any idea as to what’s in store for them – because, mark my words, I am going to be their biggest PR nightmare, and when all’s said and done this WILL be resolved one way or another. This isn’t something I am going to let slide.