New York Comic Con changes ticket policy to fight scalping

Update: The deadline for fan registration has been extended through Wednesday, June 15, at 2 p.m. EDT.

Calling scalpers “the live event industry’s greatest supervillains,” New York Comic Con producer ReedPop has a plan to get more tickets into the hands of fans.

Buying a ticket to NYCC, which has sold out for the past three years, will now be done through a Fan Verification system, the company announced today. Each person (over age 12) who wants to attend must create an online profile to get a ticket, even if their friend or family member is buying it.

All tickets — single-, three- and four-day passes, with no more VIP tier — will go on sale at the same time. For the first time, ticketing will be done solely through the NYCC website, and anyone who isn’t registered will not be able to buy a ticket.

“We know it is a little more work for our fans, but we hope they will happily work with this new system if it helps to thwart ticket brokers and ticket resellers,” says Lance Fensterman, global senior vice president of ReedPop.

New York Comic Con will take place Oct. 6-9. Registration to buy tickets — which is not a guarantee of getting them — will be open from noon on May 20 through June 13. May the Force be with you, etc.