Outrage after tickets to Adelaide's annual Christmas Pageant sold as corporate packages
Residents of South Australia have been left fuming after discovering tickets to Adelaide's annual Christmas Pageant had been sold off as corporate packages.
Traditionally the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is a free event through Adelaide's CBD that sees as many as 300,000 people attend.
But because of COVID-19 restrictions, the event has been moved to Adelaide Oval where numbers are capped at 25,000.
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In previous years the pageant was run through the streets of Adelaide's CBD. 9News
As many as 300,000 people would attend prior to COVID-19 restrictions. 9News
Corporate boxes are being sold for the event, with Adelaide Oval's website showing at least seven different options worth as much as $2250.
These tickets have gone on sale before families can enter a ballot for free tickets — effectively lowering the number of 25,000 tickets offered to the public for free.
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Now the event has been moved to Adelaide Oval the capacity has been cut to 25,000 people. 9News
When questioned this morning, Premier Steven Marshall said the focus is on young people and families, and denied the sales would reduce the number of people able to go for free.
However this afternoon in parliament the Premier said he had since asked for sales of corporate tickets to stop.
Premier Steven Marshall said he had asked for sales of corporate tickets to stop. 9News
"I think this was very disappointing and so I've made it very clear," Mr Marshall said in parliament.
"I've requested that no further sales like that occur and those additional seats go into the general pool for the ballot."
The ballot for the November 14 event is expected to be announced this month.
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