Nov. 10, 2025
Contact Dillon McArdle at 608-796-3730 or dtmcardle@viterbo.edu
VITERBO UNIVERSITY FINE ARTS CENTER WARNS PATRONS ABOUT “SPECULATIVE TICKETING,” GIVES HELPFUL TIPS
LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Fine Arts Center is warning patrons about “speculative ticketing” and giving tips to help protect members of the greater arts community.
Recently, people have spent far more than necessary or even ended up with invalid tickets to events because of third-party resale websites.
The only official place to buy tickets for Viterbo Fine Arts Center events and Viterbo Conservatory for the Performing Arts productions is through:
- Viterbo’s website: viterbo.edu/fine-arts-center (The shortened URL is viterbo.edu/fac)
- OvationTix: ci.ovationtix.com/36621
If you see tickets on other sites—for example, Event Tickets Center, AXS, Vivid Seats, Seat Geek—those sellers are not affiliated with Viterbo. What’s happening is called speculative ticketing. Resellers advertise tickets they don’t have yet and try to buy them later, often charging 2-4 times the real price. Sometimes those tickets aren’t even valid.
How to Protect Yourself
Before you buy tickets, the Viterbo Fine Arts Center encourages you to keep these tips in mind:
- Check the website address carefully––it should contain viterbo.edu or ovationtix.com
- Confirm the event details––make sure the venue states Viterbo University Fine Arts Center in La Crosse, WI. These sites often use AI to populate, listing the wrong city or other pertinent info.
- Beware of pressure tactics—pop-ups like “Only 4 left!” or vague seat info—only given a row or section but no seat choice are red flags that you may be on a third-party site.
- When in doubt, contact the venue—If the site feels off or weird, stop what you are doing and contact the Viterbo Box Office at 608-796-3100 or boxoffice@viterbo.edu. (Current hours are 2–5 p.m. Tuesday–Friday and one hour before each performance.)
Help Spread the Word
Viterbo Fine Arts Center Director Dillon McArdle said they are utilizing every tool available to combat these deceptive sites. They are asking for the community’s assistance in sharing information about speculative tickets with those who love attending shows. Reminders will also be shared on @ViterboFAC on Facebook and Instagram.
“Your support makes it possible for us to bring outstanding performances to the Coulee Region,” McArdle said. “We want your visits to be memorable and as stress-free as possible.”
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