DENVER — Before Hamilton tickets went on sale, the Denver Center for Performing Arts (DCPA) vowed to crack down on computer bots and third party sites selling tickets for huge markups.
What seemed like an impossible task, especially if you have tried to buy a concert ticket lately, Denver7 found appears to be working.
The crackdown on Hamilton scalpers is also making a few hundred last-minute tickets available for the once sold out show.
While at the same time, ruining some unfortunate buyer's evenings when they find out their tickets, bought on third-party sites, have been canceled and are turned away at the door.
As of Tuesday night, DCPA's website had around 67 tickets up for sale for the Saturday, March 24 evening show. Tickets were also available for the 2 p.m. showing on Saturday and Sunday's show.
Most of the seats are in the coveted golden circle, which cost around $500 each, but there were still a handful of less expensive seats.
DCPA has stressed they are the only authorized ticket provider for Hamilton tickets. A spokeswoman said their team analyzes the legitimacy of every transaction for all shows and plays and, "we have identified some customers in violation of our policies."
DCPA policy reserves the right to cancel any tickets that are sold on third-party sites above face value.
Theatergoers at Tuesday's showing of Hamilton praised the move.
"I don't care for the high prices and how people do that especially like at concerts at Red Rocks they do the same thing," said Tina Schoenherr.
"To someone who thinks the arts are so important and to be able to have it accessible to everyone instead of jacking it up thousands of dollars and letting only the upper crust get it, this is wonderful," said Katie Boraz.
While supporting the crackdown, Boraz has been on the other side. She said she had to take the risk and buy tickets from a scalper the first time she saw Hamilton in New York.
"I'm really afraid that the tickets I had gotten were going to be fake," she said. "To be so hyped, and to get so excited and ready to see it and then to be crushed right there at the last minute would be devastating."
Luckily, her ticket worked. Others haven't been so lucky.
Denver7 learned of one couple who was turned away during Monday's show for an invalid ticket after they were purchased on a third-party site.
