By @SAdyson

There have been rumblings among members of the Steel Army that there is something fishy going on with ticket sales regarding the Hounds.

It all began when Kutney requested that we minimize the incorporation of curse words in our chants on Saturday against Rochester. This was primarily because the Diocese of Pittsburgh Soccer League, along with groups from other clubs, were going to be sitting in the general admission section with the Steel Army. We obliged, and there were no incidents.

After the match, several people complained about the unavailability of tickets on Ticketmaster in the general admission section, which is where the Steel Army sits. The common story was that the general admission section was “greyed-out,” making it as though the section was sold out.

Other members elucidated the fact that there was a special “promo code” available only to certain development clubs associated with the Riverhounds to get tickets in the general admission section at a group rate.

Supporters that were unable to buy tickets online were a little sticker-shocked to find that the price of the game had ballooned to $14 at the gate on gameday.

It has been quite evident that attendance in the Steel Army section has not exactly been “bustling” since the home opener (in all likelihood due to the scheduling of the NHL playoffs), but attendance has been steady. It doesn’t make sense that the Hounds would suddenly become selective with whom they share promo codes to try to fill the general admission section.

Either the Hounds are legitimately trying to fill the general admission section before each home game, or they are intentionally providing Ticketmaster with false information that games are sold out to jack up prices on game day. What is worse is the thought that this might be a long-term strategy to fill the general admission seats with docile soccer know-nothings instead of energetic supporters.

We will closely monitor this situation, and if we find out information to the contrary (which is what we hope), we will indicate so. But until then, we are keeping a very close watch on what the front office is doing with the availability of tickets in the supporters’ section.

#UNLEASH the controversy