Black-market tickets for SEA Games match fetch high price
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Tickets for Saturday's men's SEA Games football match between Myanmar and Thailand reportedly fetched up to 30,000 kyats (Bt980) each on the black market.
Touts took advantage of the high number of people who turned up for the match, some of whom had been waiting since 2am only to be turned away by the ticket booths because seats had sold out.
The fixture at Yangon’s Thuwunna Football Ground was drawn 1-1.
“I have been lining up to buy a ticket since 4.30am. I don’t know what to do because tickets are sold out. I arrived in Yangon from Nay Pyi Taw at 2am,” said Wut Yi, a female spectator from Tharkayta township, ahead of the game.
Myo Min from Tamway township said he was lucky to have a ticket, but his friends did not. But it annoyed him to see those queuing in an undisciplined manner to get the tickets, he added.
An official from the ordinary-class ticket sales counter said ahead of the match that 15,000 tickets were to be sold at four stadiums.
The Myanmar-Thailand match attracted spectators not only from Yangon region but from other regions such as Ayeyawady and Bago.
“I came from Bogalay to buy a ticket, what do I have to do to get one?” said a man from Bogalay town.
Near and around the Thuwunna Football Ground, special-class tickets for Saturday’s match were being reportedly sold for 30,000 kyats per ticket on the black market.
“I had to pay 60,000 kyats for three special-class tickets on the black market. They said 5,000 more would be sold but I am not sure whether I will get them,” said a spectator from South Oakkalapa township.
A buyer blamed authorities for not taking action against black-market ticket sales.
Ordinary-class tickets were sold at 2,000 kyats and special-class tickets at 4,000 kyats.
