WASHINGTON – A lot of Capitals fans are angry and disappointed after free tickets to the Game 5 watch party sold out within minutes.
The demand for tickets was “unprecedented,” Monumental sports said in an email Thursday afternoon.
More than 70,000 people logged in at the same time—all trying to get their hands on D.C.’s hottest ticket in town. The Caps are just one win away from bringing home their first Stanley Cup title in franchise history.
Fans went to Twitter to vent their frustrations. Many of them said they couldn’t even get through on Ticketmaster. Others said the site froze, crashed or was stuck in a perpetual holding pattern.
Are you one of the frustrated fans who couldn't get a ticket? We compiled a list of the best places to watch the game with hundreds (thousands?) of fellow Caps fans. You can see our list here.
Some of the lucky few who did get tickets are already trying to sell them for a profit online. Pairs of tickets are going for upwards of $200 on eBay and Craigslist.
It’s not known exactly how many tickets were available for Thursday night’s Game 5 watch party. It’s also important to note that—according to Monumental Sports—a ticket to the watch party does not guarantee entry into the arena. Fans are encouraged to arrive early.
Attendance inside Capital One Arena for Caps watch parties has continued to grow as the team has gotten closer to Lord Stanley’s Cup:
- Game 7 (vs. Lightning) – Approximately 11,000
- Game 1 (vs. Golden Knights) – 12,498
- Game 2 (vs. Golden Knights) – 14,485
The overwhelming demand has led Caps fans to call on another D.C. team to help out. You see, the Nationals don’t play again until Friday night. Nats Park—and it’s 41,313 seats—will be sitting empty Thursday while the Caps are vying to come home Stanley Cup champions.
“Here’s looking at you Nationals Nats Park, there’s no game tomorrow night, open it up, you’ve got more than enough seats for a @Capitals viewing party,” one person tweeted.
The Nats haven’t commented as of early Wednesday evening.
