Demand for 76ers tickets has skyrocketed after Lebron James signed onto the team, with search interest up 400% and demand for tickets up around 200%, according to Jill Gonzalez with StubHub.
Fans looking to buy game tickets are advised to be cautious of potential scams, particularly those involving verification calls or emails. Jill Gonzalez warns that only pre-season tickets are available right now, and the regular season ticket drop is expected to happen soon, although the exact date has not been announced.
The 76ers have confirmed that they follow a standard protocol of making verification calls to customers after online deposits are made. A spokesperson stated, "As part of our standard protocol, any online deposits are followed by a verification call from our ticket sales department to confirm the legitimacy of the transaction and protection of the customer."
Fans have reported receiving calls from individuals claiming to be sales associates for the 76ers, asking for verification of their information. The 76ers advise fans to be cautious and to call the team directly at (215) 339-7676 if they are concerned about a call.
Fans looking to buy tickets should also be aware that the 76ers website and Ticketmaster are the only authorized sellers of 76ers tickets. Any other sellers may be scams. Jill Gonzalez advises fans to wait for the regular season ticket drop, which is expected to happen soon.
In the meantime, fans can check the 76ers staff directory to cross-check the names of individuals claiming to be sales associates. The directory can be found on the 76ers website. The 76ers also advise fans to check the email domain for HBSE.com or 76ers.com to ensure that the email is legitimate.
Fans who are concerned about a call from an associate should contact the 76ers directly to verify the legitimacy of the call. The 76ers are committed to a secure process that ensures tickets end up in the hands of their fans.
The 76ers are expected to release the schedule for the upcoming season in the next couple of weeks. Once the schedule is released, fans will be able to see all of the games and buy tickets for all of them. Fans should be cautious of any sellers who claim to have tickets available before the schedule is released.
Fans who have already put a deposit on a partial season plan, like Lewis, are continuing the process to get their tickets. Lewis was contacted by a sales associate who asked him to verify his information, but he was cautious and contacted the Action News Troubleshooters for clarification.
Source: Yahoo Sports