I intended to take my two kids to the family show at 5:30 and bought tickets online and printed them off. I spent the day with the kids at Devil's Lake and then we rushed back to Madison to be on time for the show.
We arrived at 5:25 -- five minutes early, and were told that our seats had been sold because we weren't early enough.
I wrote the manager who explained that the company is very concerned that customers who arrive at the door without tickets get the chance to attend.
Update: I feel better about this business now that the manager has been more responsive by email. I think he is a pretty good business guy actually. Even though I was really annoyed, as a customer, at least he sticks by his product, listens, and is polite on email.
But folks should know that this is practice will continue and be warned. And responsive as he was, the manager seems to think this policy of selling seats that are already paid for before the show starts is OK practice.