CMPD urges caution, Panthers fans fume as free Fan Fest tickets get sold

The much anticipated Carolina Panthers Fan Fest is just hours away.

While thousands of fans were able to get the tickets free online, several die-hards were left without them. Many fans had a tough time getting the tickets after the Ticketmaster website overloaded.

On Thursday night, dozens of the free tickets were being sold on Craigslist. Some listings asked for over $100 for the Fan Fest passes.

WBTV talked to several people outside of Bank of America Stadium Thursday night. Several fans voiced their displeasure about the sale of the free tickets.

"You can't make a profit on something you got for free," said Panthers fan T.J. Sawyer.

Fan Nate Madewell said he traveled from Idaho for the Fan Fest. He questions the team spirit of anyone who re-sells the tickets.

"If they're just selling them, then that makes them a little less of a fan to me. If you're a fan, you show up," said Madewell.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department advises consumers not to purchase tickets from strangers or from vendors not validated by the Carolina Panthers or NFL.

The department says that anyone willing to risk such a purchase should record info about the seller, such as their name, and a clothing description.

Gates open for Panthers Fan Fest at 6 p.m. Friday at Bank of America Stadium.

This story was originally published August 4, 2016 at 11:39 PM with the headline "CMPD urges caution, Panthers fans fume as free Fan Fest tickets get sold."