SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Fraudulent ticket sales for Ballet West’s historic production of The Nutcracker have reached unprecedented levels this season, the highest in the production’s 70+ year history in Salt Lake City.
The company’s box office is seeing a dramatic spike in patrons arriving at performances with fake or invalid tickets purchased from third-party sellers. Many victims are paying exorbitant prices, usually for seats that don’t exist.
When consumers search for “Nutcracker tickets” online, third-party reseller sites often appear first in results, mimicking Ballet West’s branding. These sites usually acknowledge that they are not primary ticket sellers, but the disclaimers are usually in fine print. These sites charge inflated prices and, in many cases, sell fraudulent tickets entirely.
Common scam tactics include creating false accounts using customers’ names while hiding vendor contact information; selling tickets at extreme markups, sometimes thousands of dollars above face value; selling $46 seats for $146 or more; and providing tickets without specific seat assignments.
“Families are showing up to attend this cherished holiday tradition, only to discover they’ve been scammed. We want to protect our community from these predatory practices,” said Director of Patron Services Natalie Thorpe.
Patrons who suspect they have purchased fraudulent tickets should verify their ticket confirmation is from balletwest.org or arttix.org. For legitimate ticket purchases and inquiries, contact Ballet West’s box office ticketoffice@balletwest.org or visit balletwest.org
How to Purchase Legitimate Tickets
Ballet West urges patrons to buy tickets only through official channels:
· Official Website: BalletWest.org or arttix.org
· Box Office Phone: 801-869-6900
The Nutcracker traditionally sells more than 30,000 seats throughout December and remains one of Utah’s most popular holiday events.
Red Flags for Ticket Scams
· Sites that appear first in search results but include “reseller” language in small print
· Significantly inflated prices
· Urgent pressure to “buy now”
· Only lists the seat row number
ABOUT BALLET WEST
Ballet West, led since 2007 by Artistic Director Adam Sklute, has been celebrated for innovation and excellence since 1963. Based in Salt Lake City, it presents classical masterpieces, historic works like America’s 1st Nutcracker™, and groundbreaking creations with unparalleled artistic standards.
