BUFFALO (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced a report on the state’s concert and sports ticket industry that uncovered alleged practices and abuses that prevent consumers from receiving affordable ticket prices.
Schneiderman additionally announced settlements with two ticket brokers, MSMSS LLC and Extra Base Tickets LLC, that were allegedly illegally operating without a ticket reseller license. Each company must acquire the proper license and pay penalties – $80,000 for MSMSS and $65,000 for Extra Base Tickets.
The attorney general’s office looked into the industry after receiving numerous consumer complains. Its report, titled “Obstructed View: What’s Blocking New Yorkers From Getting Tickets,” details allegedly troubling industry practices.
“Ticketing is a fixed game,” Schneiderman said. “My office will continue to crack down on those who break our laws, prey on ordinary consumers and deny New Yorkers affordable access to the concerts and sporting events they love. This investigation is just beginning our efforts to create a level playing field in the ticket industry.”
Details of the report include that 54 percent of all tickets for the state’s most popular concerts are allegedly reserved for insiders – venues, artists, promoters, and non-public groups such as those who carry a certain credit card. Venues and ticket sellers, such as Ticketmaster, also routinely add more than 21 percent to the face price of tickets in fees, the report alleges.