Phony tickets spark suit over packed-out rave

Nexus claims that TicketMaster gave assurance of quality

Publication title: Edmonton Journal

Section: City

Pages: B4
Publication date: Aug 15, 2001
ProQuest document ID: 252844116
Copyright: Copyright Southam Publications Inc. Aug 15, 2001

Author: McConnell, Rick


Abstract:

Rave promoter Nexus Tribe Inc. is suing TicketMaster Canada and Edmonton Northlands, alleging that the sale of duplicate tickets, printed on stock previously stolen from TicketMaster, prevented legitimate ticket holders from attending the dance, two months ago at the Sportex building.

In a statement of claim filed in Court of Queen's Bench, Nexus alleges Northlands, which designed and supplied the tickets, and TicketMaster, which printed them, were negligent in not ensuring the tickets could not be counterfeited.

Under an agreement between the promotion company and Northlands, signed a month before the rave, Nexus agreed to buy 3,400 tickets from TicketMaster for resale in advance of the dance. The tickets, which sold for $35 and $45, were imprinted with ultraviolet marks so security people at the doors could check them under "black lights" for authenticity.

Full text:

Counterfeit tickets to a counterculture dance party are at the centre of a lawsuit by organizers of an all-night rave.

Rave promoter Nexus Tribe Inc. is suing TicketMaster Canada and Edmonton Northlands, alleging that the sale of duplicate tickets, printed on stock previously stolen from TicketMaster, prevented legitimate ticket holders from attending the dance, two months ago at the Sportex building.

In a statement of claim filed in Court of Queen's Bench, Nexus alleges Northlands, which designed and supplied the tickets, and TicketMaster, which printed them, were negligent in not ensuring the tickets could not be counterfeited.

The lawsuit seeks $85,000 in damages for lost revenue, lost customers and a loss of reputation.

The rave began Saturday, June 9, and ended at 6 a.m. the next morning. Inside the Sportex building that night, while thousands of ravers in white gloves and sequins jumped to the beat of techno music, others holding legitimate tickets waited outside for hours, Nexus alleges.

Under an agreement between the promotion company and Northlands, signed a month before the rave, Nexus agreed to buy 3,400 tickets from TicketMaster for resale in advance of the dance. The tickets, which sold for $35 and $45, were imprinted with ultraviolet marks so security people at the doors could check them under "black lights" for authenticity.

Nexus claims TicketMaster gave assurances the tickets could not be counterfeited.

Tickets taken at the door that night were exchanged for plastic wrist bands, which allowed dancers entry to the Sportex building. The agreed capacity of the dance was set at 3,500 people.

In an affidavit attached to the lawsuit, Nexus president Nicolas Delgado alleges he began to hear rumours about fraudulent tickets before the rave.

Several hours after the doors opened that Saturday night, he alleges, the room reached capacity while hundreds of people continued to wait in line outside. Some holders of legitimate tickets were still in line at 3 a.m., Delgado alleges.

Though all tickets were checked at the door under ultraviolet lights, at least 555 counterfeit tickets were accepted that night, the lawsuit alleges.

The promotion company claims the tickets were not designed properly and were unfit for its purposes. The statement of claim also alleges the promotion company was never warned that tickets for the event were printed on stock previously stolen from TicketMaster.

In his affidavit, Delgado alleges that tickets accepted at the door were counted at 6 a.m. on Sunday, June 10. The total, he alleges, was almost 3,800.

Nexus has also filed an injunction requiring Northlands to turn over all tickets printed for the event.

The allegations made in the lawsuit have not been proven in court. TicketMaster Canada and Edmonton Northlands have not filed statements of defence.