Petition to Regulate Concert Resale Sites: Enforce Fair Pricing and Fee Limits

Subject: Implementing Regulations on Concert Resale Sites to Protect Consumers

We, the undersigned, urge United States Legislation to take immediate action to regulate concert resale sites.

When my best friend and I had a long-awaited Taylor Swift concert canceled in Vienna due to a terrorist threat, our immediate hope was to be able to make up for it and be able to attend the concert in our home city of Miami. However, for us and for certainly almost all fans, financial challenges to attend the event in another city became insurmountably high. This issue, unfortunately, is not isolated. In recent years, the rise of online ticket resale platforms has led to significant issues for fans and consumers alike. While these platforms provide a means for people to buy and sell tickets, the lack of regulation has allowed for unfair practices that harm the concert-going public.

Our primary concerns include:

Exorbitant Fees: Resale sites often charge excessive fees on top of the ticket price, sometimes reaching as high as 20-35%. In our case, the fee on StubHub to attend Taylor Swift in Miami in October was 35%, with two average tickets, costing nine thousand dollars as a result. This is most certainly outrageous. This practice unfairly burdens consumers, making live entertainment unaffordable for many. We propose a maximum fee cap of 5% on all ticket sales to ensure fair access to events.

Price Gouging: Many sellers on resale sites list tickets at extreme markups, often many times the original face value. This creates a market where only the wealthiest fans can afford tickets, and it encourages speculative buying, where individuals purchase tickets solely to resell them at inflated prices. At this point, the ticket industry has become a form of investment and gambling. We advocate for a cap on ticket prices in the resale market, limiting them to no more than 20% above the original face value. This will prevent price gouging and keep tickets accessible to genuine fans.
The changes we propose are necessary to ensure that concert tickets are sold at fair and reasonable prices, making live events accessible to all. Without these regulations, the current system will continue to favor scalpers and resellers over true fans, turning live entertainment into a commodity for profit and price gouging, rather than an experience for the masses.

We respectfully request that the United States Legislation take the following actions:

Implement a Maximum Fee Cap: Enforce a 5% cap on all fees associated with ticket sales on resale sites.

Establish a Price Ceiling: Set a maximum price cap on resold tickets, limiting them to a reasonable percentage above the original purchase price (10-20%).

Enhance Transparency: Require resale sites to clearly display the original ticket price alongside the resale price and any associated fees.

 

By signing this petition, we call for fairer regulations in the concert ticket resale market. We believe that these changes will create a more equitable system that benefits both artists and fans, ensuring that live events remain a shared community experience and safe space rather than an opportunity for profit.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Helena Blake and Samantha Heller

08/24/2024