Only 500 tickets purchased for Gibson Relays

Chairman of the Gibson McCook Relays, Professor Rainford Wilks, says they are very concerned that many spectators will not be able to attend tomorrow's event at the National Stadium due to a major breakdown in their online ticketing system.

Wilks told The Gleaner that only 500 of 10,000 tickets were purchased up to mid-afternoon (Friday) through the Amber Innovations ticketing system which they have been instructed by the Government to use.

“The main point is that the patrons have not been getting onto the system easily and they have to make several tries and it is causing a lot of frustration,” said Wilks.

“We can only assume that the platform is just not user friendly and it is inconsistent and it is just up and down,” he said.

“We don’t know what is going to happen because the number of tickets that were sold yesterday (Thursday) was ridiculously low and we don’t know whether there are any improvements that will facilitate a surge today (Friday),” Wilks said.

Tickets are being sold in two tiers inside the grandstand, with seats parallel to the finish line going for $4,600. Everywhere else inside the grandstand, tickets cost $3,500, and entrance to the bleachers will cost $600.

He pointed out that persons have been complaining bitterly about the system because it can take up to an hour to get on and buy tickets for the event.

Wilks also stated that he is quite confident that this is going to have a negative impact on the meet. “The ticketing system has been very frustrating for our patrons and this is really not good for us,” he said.

“We cannot do anything because we are in constant contact with the platform providers and we are sending them all the complains from what is going on and they are trying to respond but it is really inefficient,” Wilks said.