I adamantly voted no against the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre, yet I continually do my part to help pay off its debt by purchasing tickets for events that take place there.
In my latest ticket-purchasing experience, I had the pleasure of being offered 20 per cent off my tickets during a special pre-sale, only to be blind-sided by a myriad of ticketing fees. Each of my four tickets was subject to a $2.75 facility fee and a $5 item fee.
Next, I received a $3.50 order charge, and a $2 print-at-home charge, the latter of which was chosen for me by the obviously American man who was helping me over the phone (don’t even get me started on the fact that we are employing Americans).
In buying four tickets for an entertaining evening spent supporting my home town, I was subjected to $36.50 in fees alone.
Not only are my tax dollars being used to pay off the arena (and the Heat), but I am also being gouged almost $10 per ticket (on top of the ticket price!) to support and attend events held in an arena that I was not in support of in the first place.
Hopefully under the leadership of a new mayor, taking your family to the AESC won’t cost you your grocery money for the week.
Wendy Pronick