Standing outside the entrances to University sports venues, they have become a common sight - scalpers trying to get rid of an extra ticket or sell their season tickets for the day.
But Athletics department officials said reselling tickets, even at face value, is against University policy, and they are looking to stop it.
"We realize that there are people trying to sell tickets outside our sporting events, but it is nothing you won't see at every sporting event in the country," said Mark Koson, associate athletic director in charge of athletic ticketing. "Nonetheless, it is against University policy, and we are working to stop it."
Koson said ticket scalping rarely occurs at UNM in large proportions because the sporting events hardly ever sell out, which would boost the demand for seating.
Tickets for prime seating, however, in the reserved section and in the box seats at University Stadium and at The Pit are often re-sold, sometimes at a profit, he said.
According to New Mexico law, it is illegal to resell a ticket to any athletic contest, dance, theater, concert, circus or other amusement for more than face value. Selling a ticket for more than its face value is called scalping, a second-degree felony, which can carry a hefty fine of more than $500 and up to three months of imprisonment.
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Reselling tickets for any price on campus or at University-related events is against UNM policy, said Koson, adding that the department is working with UNMPD to crack down on the behavior.
"We currently have undercover officers working at the sporting events to determine how prevalent the ticket reselling is," said UNMPD Lt. Mike Young. "We know that the majority of people aren't selling the tickets for more than face value, but it is still against University policy, and we will enforce it."
Young said there have been no arrests for ticket scalping in recent years at UNM.
Jeremy Jojoya, an Albuquerque resident who had several tickets for reserved seating to sell outside University Stadium on Saturday for the Lobo's game against Air Force, said he didn't know it was illegal to resell tickets at UNM and that the majority of people he encountered valued the service he provided.
"There is always somebody who needs an extra ticket at the last minute," said Jojoya, adding that he often sells the tickets for a profit and that he has done it numerous times over the course of the football season. "When I can make a couple of bucks off of it, what's wrong with that? If people are willing to pay higher prices, I'm not going to turn them down."
A group of Air Force fans flagged Jojoya down and happily paid $10 above the face value for his tickets to Saturday's football game.
"I'm not trying to screw anybody over," he said. "It's just business."
