Introducing UMS’s Falcon Ticket Patrol

By UMS

Burt the falcon confiscating a grossly overcharged ticket from a notorious reseller.

In a groundbreaking effort to protect patrons from predatory ticket resellers, UMS has announced a revolutionary new initiative: the Falcon Ticket Patrol. This cutting-edge program enlists the beloved resident peregrine falcons of Burton Memorial Tower to intercept and retrieve tickets that have been resold at inflated prices.

For years, UMS has worked diligently to ensure fair ticketing practices, but the rise of secondary market reselling has required bold action. Enter Burt and Gerta, the highly trained falcon duo who have undergone an intensive, months-long training regimen in ticket detection and retrieval. Working alongside UMS’s Patron Services team, these avian enforcers have been trained to recognize barcodes associated with resold tickets and swoop down to recover them from patrons’ hands.

Anné Renforth, UMS’s Director of Patron Services, with Gerta the peregrine falcon

“Our goal is to ensure that everyone has access to the performing arts at a fair price,” said Anné Renforth, UMS director of patron services. “We realized an answer to our problems was literally right over our heads! We have a team of sharp-eyed aerial navigators right here at Burton Tower…their sight is eight times better than that of humans, and they can spot an invalid ticket from two miles away.”

The Falcon Ticket Patrol operates with remarkable precision. Reaching dive-bombing speeds of over 200 mph, these fastest animals on earth can distinguish between a properly purchased ticket and one that has been marked up 500% by an unscrupulous reseller. Once a fraudulent ticket is detected, Burt or Gerta will swiftly intercept it in flight, returning it to our box office for efficient seat reassignment.

UMS patrons have already begun spotting the falcons in action. One concertgoer, whose resold ticket was retrieved just before entering Hill Auditorium, described the experience: “At first, I thought I was under attack. But then I saw the UMS logo on the falcon’s tiny vest, and I knew I was in good hands—or rather, good talons.”

So resellers, beware! If you see a shadow overhead around Hill Auditorium, it may not be a cloud—it might be Gerta, ensuring justice for the performing arts.

And please, always remember, UMS.org is the only authorized ticket seller for UMS Events.