LAS VEGAS (KSNV MyNews3) –– In higher numbers than normal, University of Nevada Las Vegas police patrolled the Thomas and Mack Center Monday night.
“We want people to see uniforms everywhere,” said UNLV police officer Paul Velez.
Their search: for scalpers possibly preying on Rebels fans.
“We should have a fairly significant turnout of scalpers,” said Velez.
Monday was the UNLV men’s basketball team’s home opener at the Thomas and Mack Center. About 18,200 tickets were reportedly sold.
“(Scalpers) are always looking to concentrate on bigger crowds, bigger venues, more sales,” said Velez.
The police priority according to Velez was more on those selling counterfeit tickets.
“With the printers and the software nowadays, the quality of these fake tickets are pretty amazing,” said Velez.
News 3 found one man advertising tickets, but when we approached he said he was only trying to give them away.
He did offer a defense for scalping, before walking out of sight.
“It's supply and demand, and it's very good,” said the man.
A familiar sight to some, Rapper Flavor Flav, also a Rebels fan, said he scalped tickets before becoming famous.
“Honestly, I know about scalping tickets, because way back in the day I used to scalp tickets way before I was public enemy,” said Flavor Flav. “Honestly to make extra dough, and not only that but then there are a lot of people that couldn't get tickets… and you know you want people to go enjoy the game, so you got to charge them a little more than the box office.”
Emily Buckles told News 3 she chooses to buy at the box office or through the Rebels website.
“Just because I know I'm going to have them, and I know where I'm going to be sitting,” said Buckles.
Police recommend you only get tickets at a box office or through a licensed ticket broker.
That excludes some sellers on Craigslist.
Police said it is difficult to determine if those sellers have legitimate tickets or not.
