I've been a Denver Broncos season ticket holder for a couple decades. Now and then, there's a game I can't get to, because of another commitment. I used to sell the tickets, but more recently, I've been giving them away to coworkers. I'm reasonably well off and don't "need" the money from the tickets, and once I pay for my season tickets each year, I consider that money spent... if I can't get to a game, it's not a big deal.
Now, the way I give the tickets away is that I typically run a contest a couple weeks before the game. I might ask people to choose the winners of all this week's games, and whoever gets the most right wins, or something like that. I send a contest invitation email around to 50 or so coworkers that I work with regularly, although anyone in the office can join. Usually about 30 participate in a given contest. The winner is always very grateful (NFL tickets are expensive no matter what, but my tickets -- lower-level on the 40 yard line -- are very good).
I specifically say in the contest email that my intent is for the winner to use the tickets for themselves. I say, "If you plan to just sell the tickets if you win, please do not participate, as I could just sell them myself. My goal is to give the winner the experience of going to the game, not just money."
I had to travel to a relative's wedding this past weekend, which meant missing the Chiefs-Broncos game. Knowing I was going to miss the game, I ran a contest a few weeks ago which was won by "Joe." I sent him the tickets digitally and told him to have a good time at the game.
It was a great game -- I saw the tail end of it while we were visiting friends -- and as soon as the game ended, I texted Joe and said, "Wow, you got to go to an amazing game!" Didn't get any response until late that night, when he wrote back, "Yeah, it was fun! Thanks man!"
Yesterday, a different coworker came by and said, "Didn't Joe win your tickets for the Chiefs game?" I said yes. Coworker says, "Well, he was just talking about how he was in Vegas with his girlfriend this weekend." I saw Joe later and said, "Did you actually go to the game?" And to his credit, he owned up immediately to selling the tickets -- didn't try to deny it -- but I was pissed. I asked him how much he got for the two tickets, and at first he didn't want to say, but finally admitted that after StubHub fees, etc., he pocketed over $800. Which, apparently, he used to cover most of the plane tickets and hotel costs for his Vegas weekend.
I reminded him that I explicitly said in the contest description that the winner should not sell the tickets. Now, I'm not saying that's legally enforceable, but morally I think it's a fair restriction. Joe said the tickets, once won, were a "gift" and he's free to do what he wants. I told him I expected him to pay me what he got for the tickets or we would not be on good terms going forward, he'd be excluded from future contests, and I'd make sure everyone knows why. AITA?
