Fans encouraged to purchase Cotton Bowl tickets through SeatGeek

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou Tigers are heading to the Cotton Bowl, and those looking to attend will need to make sure they're buying a reliable ticket.

Tickets to the game in Arlington, Texas, are already sold out and are being sold on secondary markets. Verified resale tickets for the game are available on SeatGeek, according to the Cotton Bowl's website, and all tickets will be mobile.

Mizzou Athletics spokesperson Dave Matter said in an email that fans are encouraged to use the Cotton Bowl website to access available tickets.

"Fans should always use a known secondary ticket provider that has built-in policies for protection, refunds and fraud," Matter said. "If prices online appear too good to be true, it's usually safe to assume those are not legit tickets."

A Tuesday search on SeatGeek showed over 1,700 available listings for the Cotton Bowl, with the cheapest ticket being $116.

A spokesperson for the Cotton Bowl, Scottie Rodgers, said in an email that they drive ticket sales through official links on their website, mobile app and social media. He said SeatGeek is the official ticket provider for the Cotton Bowl.

"Purchasing tickets via SeatGeek is the only way to ensure what you are purchasing is not a scam," Rodgers said.

If fans are looking elsewhere for tickets, the Better Business Bureau released guidance earlier this year on avoiding scams when heading to a big game. Some of these tips include:

• Know the difference between a professional ticket broker and unregulated ticket scalpers or scammers.
• Only buy tickets from trusted vendors. Don't click links on random emails or online advertisements; be especially wary if prices seem low.
• Only buy from secure websites. Look for the lock symbol in a web address to ensure a website is secure.
• Know information about the tickets before purchasing. The BBB advises to know the location of the seats, know when the tickets will be available and know the refund policy.
• Pay with a credit card. The BBB said credit cards allow some recourse if the tickets aren't what was promised, but debit cards, wire transfers and cash payments can be risky.
• Verify the ticket seller online. Use sites like the BBB or National Association of Ticket Brokers to look up companies selling tickets.

Additionally, people looking to attend the game should be aware of any travel-related scams.

The Mizzou Alumni Association has reservations available for official travel packages. An air-inclusive travel package is sold out, but a two-night, land-only package and a game day package are available.