Massachusetts' new ticketing law, part of a recently signed Economic Development Bill by Governor Maura Healey, has sparked controversy over secondary ticket sales. The legislation requires customers to resell tickets on their original purchase platform, effectively giving companies like Ticketmaster greater control over the resale market.

Live Nation executives defend the law as a measure to combat ticket scalping. Dan Wall, VP of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs at Live Nation, explains it targets professional ticket brokers who use bots to purchase large quantities of tickets intended for fans, only to resell them at inflated prices.

Consumer advocacy groups, including MASSPIRG, express concerns about the law's impact on ticket prices. Dierdre Cummings of MASSPIRG warns that Ticketmaster could potentially buy tickets at face value and resell them at higher prices, maintaining elevated ticket costs.

StubHub has criticized the law as anti-competitive, favoring Ticketmaster and Live Nation. They are advocating for lawmakers to revise the legislation to prevent a ticketing monopoly in Massachusetts.

This development comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Live Nation, including a U.S. Department of Justice anti-trust investigation into potential competitive practices. Todd O'Boyle from Chamber of Progress notes the irony that Massachusetts joined the federal anti-trust suit while potentially strengthening Live Nation's market position through this new law.

The legislation's impact on sports and entertainment fans remains a concern, with critics arguing it could make event attendance more difficult and expensive for Massachusetts residents. The General Court is expected to review these concerns when it reconvenes in 2025.

Related Articles

Previous Articles