This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Real Salt Lake's CONCACAF showdown with Monterrey tonight at 8 is officially sold out, but it hasn't stopped fans from hunting for the tickets.
Michael Schetzel, the team's director of ticket operations, reported that hopeful fans have been walking up or calling in all day to try to grab some seats — or even a space to stand — at the 20,000-person-capacity Rio Tinto stadium in Sandy. Walking out to the parking lot Tuesday night, Schetzel said he ran into several people who were looking for tickets.
He said the demand for a spot at the potentially historic game is comparable to the fervor at his previous job with the Boston Red Sox.
"It's definitely the highest demand we've had in the three years I've been here," Schetzel said. "It's just been through the roof. I'd put this on par with some Red Sox games."
Tickets still were available as of 1 p.m. on third-party sites, but evaporating quickly. StubHub.com had three tickets left at $129 apiece, while ticketexchangeutah.com had six standing-room-only tickets for $105 each. Craigslist.com was littered with ticket offers ranging from $20 each to $200.
StubHub spokeswoman Joellen Ferrer said the site had sold more Monterrey tickets than for any other RSL game. On average, fans paid $107 per ticket while the average for other RSL games hovers at about $30 to $50.
RSL was quick to offer season-ticket holders the early chance to get seats at the Monterrey game, but Schetzel said his office had heard from a fair number of first-time buyers. A lot of Wednesday night's spectators will be seeing pro soccer for the first time in arguably one of the biggest games in Major League Soccer history.
"A lot of our season-ticket holders have sold this game for us, bringing along friends or relatives they've tried to get into RSL," Schetzel said. "And then we have a lot of curious and casual observers who have heard about our success and are wondering what this team is about. This is going to be the match to be at."
For those not among the lucky 20,000 who will see the game live, Fox Soccer Net will broadcast the game on television.
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