(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A Fall Out Boy fan has gone viral after a heart-stopping Ticketmaster experience in which they appeared to have a six-figure concert fee tacked onto their existing tickets to see the Chicago band’s upcoming show at Wrigley Field.
The price of two tickets: $261. The additional fee: $205,181.47.
It was first announced that Fall Out Boy was kicking off its tour at Wrigley Field back in January, and when Lo Rohland heard the news, they immediately texted their family group chat in anticipation of the February presale. Rohland knew the Ticketmaster process: Enter the presale, and hopefully get in the front of the queue.
“I texted my family group chat like, ‘Anyone who can get in — get in, and get some tickets,’” Rohland said.
They got lucky. Rohland was able to get four tickets, and their father was able to buy two. Their dad’s tickets, though, didn’t show up.
“Basically … as the show got closer, the bar codes weren’t showing up, and [the Ticketmaster app] kept saying ‘Event not found,’” they said.
After Rohland and their dad went through a customer service carousel, they found a Cubs service representative who said they could help get the two missing tickets into his account, but the troubles didn’t end there.
Rohland said their father couldn’t access the tickets through his account. A little more alarming, though, was the $205,181.47 fee that was now showing up on the receipt for two tickets.
Although Rohland said the charge didn’t go through, they added that the experience “really ties in with the meme that Ticketmaster fees are absolutely insane.”
On Twitter, Rohland provided an update and said it was a “visual glitch,” which they said has been happening to a lot of folks.
WBBM Newsradio has reached out to Ticketmaster and the Cubs for comment.
Late Tuesday — a little over 24 hours before the show was scheduled to begin — Rohland said they were able to access their tickets. They told WBBM that this isn’t the first time they’ve experienced issues with tickets.
“I saw Paramore two weeks ago, and I had issues getting those to show up on my phone,” Rohland said. “And for what they're charging, it’s frustrating that it leads to the delivery not being consistent.”
New legislation is being pushed in Congress that would require event ticket sellers to post the total price in all promotional materials. U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) said she’s sponsoring the bill because she believes extra fees are out of control.
“I think they take for granted the idea that people want so badly to go to these events that they'll decide, at the end, ‘Oh well, I'll just take this extra high fee,” Schakowsky said.
Schakowsky said ticket sellers are taking advantage of people who want to find a memorable experience. Rohland echoed that sentiment.
“It would just be nice to be able to see artists that you want to see in your city — or maybe paying more for the tickets than for the fees — that would be nice,” Rohland said.
Fall Out Boy’s show at Wrigley Field begins at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday.
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