Online Sellers Looking To Cash In On Blackhawks Rally

(CBS) -- There is a lot of online angst ahead of the big Blackhawks celebration on Thursday.

The limited free seating tickets at Soldier Field are now being resold for big bucks. While it's not illegal, the city says don't buy them.

The 75,000 coveted Soldier Field tickets were gone in minutes, and those freebies popped up online on eBay and Craigslist, ranging from about $100 each to around $500.

CBS 2's Brad Edwards found a number of those looking to cash in on those free tickets

The city said, "Only free tickets obtained from Ticketmaster can be verified as valid for entry. All others should be assumed to be invalid or counterfeit."

Edwards emailed one re-seller and was off to a strip mall in Evanston, where he waited at the Just Turkey. The seller was asking for $150.

"I don't think it's any different than someone who bought 50-dollar standing room only tickets for Game 6 and sold them for one thousand dollars," he said.

While the city is warning fans not to buy the tickets, there are many out there willing to pay a premium for the freebies.

Gates at Soldier Field will open at 8 a.m., and concession stands inside the stadium will be open for the rally. Seating will be set up on the playing area, but the turf will be covered with a protective surface to avoid damaging the grass.

Tailgating will be prohibited, and city officials were trying to discourage fans from going over to Soldier Field without a ticket for the rally.