Accessing Accessible Seating @ ACC

Today my husband and I encountered problems AGAIN while trying to purchase tickets in the accessible seating section of ACC through Ticketmaster. I am wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same issue or if anyone has already been involved in communications with ACC/Ticketmaster regarding the current policy.

Here is the problem:

1. You can not purchase accessible seating from Ticketmaster on their website. You MUST call and speak to a representative to purchase accessible seats. You have to wait until the tickets go on sale, call, wait on hold for a very long time (usually an hour) and then finally get to try to purchase the tickets. Sometimes by the time you get through to a representative, the tickets are all sold out. (Some events do sell out in minutes...we should have the same chance at getting tickets as everyone else).

2. You can only purchase a limit of two accessible tickets. Huh??? This makes it very difficult to attend events with family members and/or friends. If you need the attendant seat for an actual "attendant", you do not get to sit with your friend/family. This poses difficulties for parents to attend with a child. In my specific case, we like to attend events as a couple AND at times bring along another family member. It isn't too much fun if the family member has to sit somewhere else (or myself for that matter). Why bother??

3. NEW POLICY.....the two previous policies have been in place for a long time (and we have been creative at working around these). The newest addition to these problems is that you MUST pick up your tickets in person at the box office. Well....thanks for making it just all the more difficult!!! We reside about an hour away from Toronto. I don't feel we should have to make a special trip to pick up tickets (other venues commonly mail or courier tickets to us). The option is to wait and pick up the tickets the day of the event. This poses many other difficulties: parking and accessing the building (you can't get in to park without your ticket so now you have to find parking elsewhere), box office opens an hour before event (get ticket, get back around to proper entrance, get to seats, usually have to wait and get shuffled around because some brainiac allowed someone else with a "regular" ticket to have the accessible seat, finally get settled....missed start of show), getting though the crowds of people, etc...
Some tickets may be purchased/picked up at a Ticketmaster location and others must be done at the ACC box office - Raptor tickets fall into the latter category as I discovered today. Confusing!

Reason for these policies: abuse of the accessible seating by individuals that do not need the accessibility. I completely agree and understand that there has been abuse of these limited seats. I completely agree that something should be in place to ensure that the individuals that require the accessible seating are the only ones purchasing the seats.

BUT - the policies they have put in place to ensure we have better access to the tickets actually have made the tickets less accessible. I feel these policies are disabling individuals more than the reason they require the accessible seating!

There has to be a better way of "defending" the accessible seats for those who require them but still allowing individuals the same opportunity to gain access and attend entertainment/sporting events. I have thought of having people pre-"register" with Ticketmaster to allow access to the seating. This may seem a tad absurd but policy #3 above is so that you can physically prove to them that you require the seating so, if we have to do that, why not allow it to be done ahead of time? Also, I would assume that most individuals that require the accessible seats would also have an accessible parking permit - I did say "most" and "assume"....I may be incorrect on this! Regardless, other venues DO use this as a way of policing the accessible seats - you have already proved you need the accessibility by having the parking permit (now, now....don't get started; THAT is a separate issue for another night). Now, to really cause some cheering (for us!), the ACC should adhere to their so-called warnings that if you are in the accessible seats and don't need the accessibility.....you are removed from the venue. Why warn individuals that you will do something if you really can not ever follow through! How can an usher "prove" that the person doesn't need the space without a huge blowup!!! This also raises concerns for those who need the accessibility but may not outwardly appear to require it.

I apologize for being long-winded, however, I wanted everyone to understand the issue from my point of view. I decided today that I needed to approach the ACC and/or Ticketmaster because these policies are very frustrating to me personally and are having a negative impact on my life and family life. Then, I remembered the "strength in numbers" for advocacy. Is this an issue for anyone else? Do you have suggestions of how to make things better? Has anyone started up the battle already (that I can join!!)? Does anyone have contacts with either ACC or TicketMaster? Should CPAO approach ACC and/or TicketMaster regarding the issue? I know that another venue has quit utilizing Ticketmaster for the accessible seating because of the policies - is it time that the ACC do this as well? I look forward to hearing your opinions and responses - I will be approaching them anyway but "the more the merrier"!!!

Thank you for your time!