House rejects legalizing ticket scalping
By The Associated Press
This article was originally published March 8, 2013 at 7:07 a.m. Updated March 8, 2013 at 11:17 a.m.
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The Arkansas House has rejected a proposal to legalize the scalping of concert tickets in the state.
House lawmakers Friday rejected the proposal by a 20-65 vote.
The measure would have allowed the resale of concert tickets at a price higher than face value. The proposal would have continued to ban ticket scalping for tickets to high school or college athletic events or for other events held for the benefit of charity.
Republican Rep. Douglas House of North Little Rock sponsored the measure. He says the state should embrace ticket scalping based on free-market principles.
He says ticket-holders ought to be able to make a profit off their tickets.
House says concert venues are opposing the proposal.
Comments on: House rejects legalizing ticket scalping
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LevitiCuss says... March 8, 2013 at 9:11 a.m.
Douglas needs to change his name to DICK. Scalpers suck. Just another example proving the Arkansas legislature is a bunch of backwards hicks and morons. You can bet he got a check from ticket brokers wanting to set up shop in AR. I hope he buys a nice steak meal with that money and chokes on it, in a restaurant surrounded by AR leg members who are too stupid to know the Heimlich Maneuver.
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RBBrittain says... March 8, 2013 at 9:29 a.m.
LevitiCuss, the problem is (a) the state Supreme Court ruled the way the current scalping law is written even Ticketmaster was a scalper, (b) all the ticket brokers are on the Internet now and beyond the law's reach, and (c) as a result only the poor guy standing in front of RRS or WMS trying to get rid of his excess Razorback tickets ever gets arrested anymore. Even the Hannah Montana scalpers IIRC were ultimately caught using computer-fraud laws, NOT the anti-scalping law. Most anti-scalping laws were being repealed around the time Arkansas expanded its law to music events (originally it covered ONLY college & high school athletic events); it's WAY past time for it to go.
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ToTheLeft says... March 8, 2013 at 9:44 a.m.
I think any ticket resellers should be illegal. Every person in America has access to a phone or computer. We can order our own tickets at face value. We don't need some greedy person or company to buy them all up first, then sell them to us at higher prices. We DO NOT need ticket brokers. Period. Once upon a time, they performed a service. Now, they do not.
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RBBrittain says... March 8, 2013 at 10:12 a.m.
ToTheLeft, first of all the way Arkansas' law is written "face value" means the price at the ON-SITE box office (i.e., inside Verizon), NOT by phone or computer (i.e., Ticketmaster). That actually makes Ticketmaster fees WORSE because now Verizon has to pay them a flat rate on EVERY ticket, no matter HOW it's purchased. Second, as I said before the real scalpers are on the Internet in places where they do NOT care about anti-scalping laws; guys like the Hannah Montana scalpers (in China) have to be treated as hackers (i.e., they hacked into Ticketmaster's website to buy all the tickets). Lastly, there ARE electronic ticketing solutions now that should all but solve the scalping problem WITHOUT an anti-scalping law; but as long as Arkansas treats Ticketmaster as a scalper we won't see those.
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SoonerHawg says... March 8, 2013 at 10:19 a.m.
I agree with TTL. If they really wish to do something positive and impose some regulations - they should outlaw Ticketmaster and any other "brokers". These gougers' practices should be eliminated altogether NATIONWIDE!!!
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dimebag says... March 8, 2013 at 10:45 a.m.
you know how to stop scalpers? stop buying the dang tickets. when people quit showing up for these events, concerts or razorbacks, it will change. stop paying the price, that will end it quicker than any frivolous law.
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ToTheLeft says... March 8, 2013 at 12:27 p.m.
As soon as tickets go onsale to the public, the brokers have people buying as many tickets as possible, just to resell at higher prices. This is WRONG.
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outinthesticks says... March 8, 2013 at 12:43 p.m.
I agree with dimebag. If people will quit buying them, then the brokers have no reason to try and gobble them up. For those of you who don't do economics, it's called a market...where a buyer and seller come together. The only reason the scalpers are there is because demand exceeds supply. I will admit to buying tickets to professional sporting events on StubHub. No one made me do it. I did it because it was either a last minute decision, or I wanted to sit where I wanted...regardless of price. So in that respect, they gave me a service. Otherwise, there's no way I sit behind home plate at Wrigley for the Cubs/Cardinals. You left-winged guys seem to think government can solve ALL problems, just pass another law. Don't you think the police (and government) should be concerned about real problems and real criminals, rather than someone who buys an overpriced ticket out of their own free will, to a game or concert no one is making them attend? Never mind, you don't or won't get it.
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TheBatt says... March 8, 2013 at 1:40 p.m.
This makes absolutely no sense... why? Because ticket "retailers" already are doing exactly what is already illegal -
Take Tickemaster for example - If an event comes to LR with a ticket price of $30, Ticketmaster resells that ticket to you at a significantly higher price (they call it a "convenience fee" -
So how about people go buy up blocks of tickets then resell them at face value "+ a convenience fee".... Seems that this is legal...
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