The core of the complaint centers on the relationship between Ticketmaster and ticket brokers, commonly known as scalpers. The FTC claims that despite publicly stating its opposition to scalpers, Ticketmaster has privately “turn[ed] a blind eye as a matter of policy” to brokers who violate the company’s rules. The lawsuit alleges that these brokers use thousands of fake accounts to bypass ticket limits and acquire large quantities of tickets. The complaint states that Ticketmaster benefits from this practice by collecting additional fees when the tickets are resold on its own platform, an act the FTC describes as a “triple dip.”
Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses the companies of “bait-and-switch” pricing, where a lower ticket price is advertised initially, but mandatory fees are added at the end of the transaction. According to the FTC, these hidden fees can be as high as 44% of the ticket’s cost. The FTC states that these practices violate both the FTC Act and the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties and other monetary relief to address consumer harm.
This legal action follows years of public and government scrutiny of the companies’ business practices, including a separate antitrust lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice in 2024. The FTC’s lawsuit emphasizes a commitment to ensuring live entertainment is accessible to all, with FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson stating, “It should not cost an arm and a leg to take the family to a baseball game or attend your favorite musician’s show.” The outcome of this case could significantly impact how live event tickets are sold in the United States.
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