Schumer Goes After Ticket Brokers

U2 live (Tien Mao)

In one of his signature Sunday press conferences, Senator Chuck Schumer announced that he'll introduce a bill this week that would prohibit ticket brokers from buying up tickets during the first two days they're on sale to the public. The proposal is believed to be a reaction against February's Bruce Springsteen ticket debacle, in which Ticketmaster referred fans to its high-priced subsidiary TicketsNow almost immediately after tickets went on sale for two New Jersey concerts.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Schumer said, "The bottom line is we need to create a fair system where fans get first crack at good seats at a reasonable price...It's simply unfair that you either need to be a computer hacker or made of money to go see Bruce Springsteen or U2 or the Mets or the Yankees." The bill would also require ticket resellers to register with the Federal Trade Commission, which has subpoenaed Ticketmaster for information about its TicketsNow affiliates. As Schumer announced his proposal, tickets for U2's Giants Stadium concert were selling for up to $3,210 on TicketsNow.

In the aftermath of the Springsteen fiasco, Schumer called for an anti-trust investigation of Ticketmaster. Perhaps because of objections to the company's proposed merger with Live Nation, Ticketmaster CEO Irving Azoff is playing ball, telling the Daily News, "I am very happy to support Sen. Schumer's thoughtful proposal and leadership on this issue." And last week Ticketmaster confirmed that it has also received subpoenas and requests for information from the New Jersey Attorney General, the Canadian Competition Bureau, and the Justice Department.

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By John Del Signore in News on April 6, 2009 3:40 PM

Comments [rss]

Rob T Firefly

I resent the implication that computer hackers give a tin shit about Bruce Springsteen or U2 or the Mets or the Yankees.

handsomedevil

Ebay-style ticket auctions would actually be a really good thing for everybody (except teenagers, I guess). Adults with money could bid their way into a show they really want to see, rather than sitting down at the computer and frantically logging into ticketmaster. Lousy seats or shitty shows, on the other hand, would be cheaper. And scalpers would have no profit incentive left.

drewo

Schumer should spend some taxpayer time and money looking at the art re-sale business. I mean, someone buys a painting or work of art, and just sits on it for a few months or maybe a year, and then sells it (through those evil auction houses) at twice the price! Outrageous! This kind of activity prevents the little guy from buying and enjoying art!

Gwillie

Why not just sell tickets at the venue like in the old days, just for the first week, then online services get to sell whats left. I went to buy tickets once to see

Hiroshima at the El Paso Convention Center, They sent me to the Ticketmaster outlet. I was pissed, I drove there to avoid having to buy from Ticket master! On the plus side there was no line.

Bottomless Chips

Nanny Schumer strikes again!

He doesn't understand human nature. The secondary market will always exist for any good. This does nothing except for clogging up the courts and will invariably cost the taxpayer some money.

fugothamist

Why doesn't Schumer ever hold press conferences on Saturdays?

Serioulsy, though...I do agree that the current system for event tickets is a joke

Tgirl

Ticketmaster = evildoers

Geoelh

Stonecutters

drewo

Schumer = no shame.

MT

Now I know things are getting back to normal because Chuck Shumer is shilling on Sundays again.

CR

Not gonna make a damn bit of difference as they'll just find a new way to get over. However, recently I've bought tickets for a couple of different shows from scalpers and only slightly paid more than the ticket price and sat within the first 5 rows each time. Nawt bad.