soccer scams

Starting early Monday morning, I could see the line of people waiting 5 hours outside my office -located across the street from the soccer stadium-to buy tickets to the world cup qualifying match against Argentina that was played in Quito yesterday. The Ecuadorian team had won their game against Peru on Sunday (2-1), making the Argentina game pivotal in their chance to make it to the world cup. While Peru was not expected to win, yesterday Argentina was strongly favored. Since its not every day you get to go to a world cup qualifying match in a latin american country, I decided the $30 was worth it, and on Tuesday afternoon went to go buy a scalped ticket in front of the stadium (which is legal in Ecuador and doesnt include a large mark up). I tried my best to bargain down the price and ended up leaving with a ticket for $25, leaving me $5 to buy a bright yellow team jersey to wear to the game.

I was so excited Wednesday morning, they had closed off the streets around the stadium (and my office) and I was able to walk freely with the sea of yellow towards the stadium. I decided against getting the face paint of glittery yellow, red and blue (Ecuador's colors) and marched up to the already packed stadium 3 hours before the game was supposed to start with my friends. I went to hand the ticket to the police officer at the door with a huge smile on my face, only to be told that the ticket was fake (which no one had warned me about). I tried pleading with the guard to let me in as my smile began to disappear, but it did no good since there was another ticket checker inside the stadium. I was devastated, I hadnt come with enough cash to buy another ticket and had been so excited to go to the game. Right when I had given up arguing with the guard and about to make my way out of the stadium, my friends handed me $30 to go buy a new ticket. I figured I would rather spend the money than have the memory of being turned away and not seeing the game, so I took it and ran outside to find someone else selling tickets. Before making the transaction with the first guy I saw selling the tickets in the section I wanted (seats arent assigned, just sections of the stadium), I made him take the ticket to a police officer to verify that it was real. I ran back into the stadium, and found my friends and eventually a seat. After buying one of the huge cups of beer and seeing the excitement of the fans, the debacle of my ticket evaporated from my thoughts and I began cheering along with the crowd. Even after it started hailing and didnt stop until the game ended, I am so glad I went. Ecuador beat Argentina in the second half 2-0!! I now will be going to the Uruguay game in October and hopefully see Ecuador make it to the world cup.