The Vancouver Canucks have changed their ticket policy after a disabled hockey fan was unable to get a last-minute ticket discount because he uses a wheelchair.

Nanaimo resident Scott Poulter, who is recovering from a double hip replacement, wanted to catch a game at Rogers Arena during his rehabilitation stint in Vancouver last month.

But Poulter, 33, said he was discriminated against when he tried to buy a ticket through the Last Seat in the House promotion.

The promotion is applied to single seat locations in Rogers Arena that don't have available openings adjacent to that respective seat, when available.

Poulter said he was told by both the box office and Ticketmaster that handicapped Canucks fans don't qualify for the promotion, even though he said there were unsold seats in the disabled section that night.

Poulter believed the policy was a flat-out case of discrimination.

"Why can't someone in a wheelchair enjoy a game under that type of policy versus someone who can walk, like you or him or her?" he said.

Victor De Bonis, Chief Operating Officer of Canucks Sports and Entertainment, told Steele on Your Side that Poulter's predicament was unusual, and his organization does its best to provide equal treatment for all fans.

"Obviously we don't feel like we want to discriminate for anybody. It's all about the fan experience. Our venue here has been recognized as an accessible facility for everybody."

De Bonis said this is the first time a disabled fan has complained about the last-minute seat promotion, and the situation prompted the Canucks organization to immediately change its policy.

"We don't want anybody to be unhappy, so we quickly thought about the issues and tried to make an adjustment to what we thought made sense," he said.

The next time the Canucks hold a Last Seat in the House promotion De Bonis said they will split up some pairs of seats in the disabled section to offer handicapped fans the same discounted ticket price as able-bodied fans.

Wheelchair seating is normally set in pairs so that an attendant can accompany a disabled guest for assistance, said De Bonis.

The organization said there are rarely single seats available in the disabled area because "most disabled guests elect to have an individual accompany them."

Poulter is delighted with the rule change.

"It makes me feel great. At least people in my condition or worse can take advantage of that and try to get those tickets cheap, ‘cause it's as expensive as heck to go to a hockey game, especially in Vancouver," he said.

After our interview with Poulter, De Bonis insisted on meeting him and giving him a gift -- a poster signed by the entire team.

Rogers Arena, which is owned by the Canucks Sports and Entertainment Group, was recognized by BC Tourism last year as being a major public facility that accommodates the disabled.

It also won the Standing Ovation award in 2006, which is given out annually to a company that does its best to help the disabled live their lives independently.

Watch CTV News for a full report from Lynda Steele, and the reaction from the Vancouver Canucks organization…

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