2006-08-13 11:17:36 · 13 answers · asked by lanalaurain 1 in Sports ➔ Baseball
(Even though this article pertains to the NFL, it probably applies to the MLB as well)
Scalping tickets for sporting events has spread from stadium parking lots to cyberspace.
A quick glance at eBay, the auction Web site, shows that sellers draw bids several times the face value of tickets. Law enforcement agencies say they monitor the sites to make sure prices are within legal limits, but admit online sales are difficult to police.
The NFL isn't amused by the burgeoning Internet market for tickets. Most teams print language on the back of their tickets warning buyers against unlawful resale, said Greg Aiello, a league spokesman.
"We view it as unethical and in some cases against the law," Aiello said. "It suggests a desire to profit personally and perhaps illegally on the coattails of either the NFL or the team."
State laws governing the resale of tickets are often murky. In New Jersey, it is illegal for a licensed broker or season ticket holder to sell a ticket to any event held in the state for more than 50% above the price the broker or season ticket holder paid.
Other sellers cannot charge a price more than 20% above face value, said Genene Morris, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
The law applies even if the buyer and seller both live elsewhere, she said.
Some sellers on eBay post names that make it clear they are brokers. But it's difficult to tell whether others are brokers or season ticket holders and, thus, how much they can legally get for their tickets.
But of nine randomly chosen auctions to the Sept. 15 New York Jets- New England Patriots game, only one stopped before bidding topped 120% of the face value of the tickets.
The face value of the highest-priced Jets ticket, the mezzanine level, is $70.
The top bid in the nine auctions was $320 for a pair of lower level seats with a face value of $55 — meaning the winning bidder paid $160 per ticket.
An eBay education
EBay, based in San Jose, Calif., does its part to try to see that sellers follow the law by providing links to the rules in each state. EBay encourages sellers to include language on their postings explaining the rules that apply, said Kevin Pursglove, a spokesman.
But he conceded enforcement is nearly impossible and the company depends on sellers to abide by an honor system, he said.
"We don't make any pretense that we can be expert in every resale policy on a state-by-state basis," he said. "We feel our best role is to educate people."
Morris, the New Jersey consumer affairs spokesman, acknowledged the price caps, which were raised in April, are tough to enforce. Because most eBay sellers do not list their real name, phone number or address, it's difficult to identify them, though the site allows sellers to be reached by e-mail.
But Morris said the state has prosecuted several ticket agencies in recent years for violating the law.
The offenders paid fines and signed settlement agreements in which they agreed not to violate the caps again, she said.
"We generally don't comment on investigations, but as a matter of course we do monitor (Internet ticket sales)," she said.
Teams monitor sites
NFL teams are aware of the thriving online market and some are doing all they can to crush it.
Just ask John Reis of Warwick, R.I., a Patriots season ticket holder for 18 years who had his tickets taken away in June after his wife placed his three tickets to a game against the Green Bay Packers on eBay.
The team's cybersnoopers were able to tell the tickets belonged to Reis because the posting listed his name and address, he said.
Reis, a crime prevention officer in Rhode Island Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse's office, said he knew he would be unable to attend the Packers game because it falls on his wedding anniversary.
He said the tickets, which had a face value of $99 each, drew a high bid of $851. But he said the high bidder never contacted him and the Patriots took his account before he even received his season tickets from the team.
"I've been a loyal season ticket holder," Reis said. "I've never been kicked out of a seat. I've never been late on a payment. If I had known I was jeopardizing my season ticket account, this wouldn't have happened."
A Patriots spokesperson would not comment on how much effort the team puts into monitoring online auctions.
The Jets monitor eBay and other online sites, said Robert Parente, the team's vice president of business operations. If they're able to identify a season ticket holder looking to sell, the Jets write the fan a letter, he said.
"We tell them they should cease and desist," he said. "When we talk to people, most people are reasonable and they take them off eBay."
2006-08-13 11:27:30 · answer #1 · answered by ted_armentrout 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm a Cubs fan in NYC and the ticket prices at both new NYC stadiums are almost beyond belief. I won't be going to a game until I visit Houston and Atlanta in a few weeks time. Just another part of my love/hate relationship with NYC.
2016-03-27 00:30:00 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cannot sell within 1500 feet of stadium. Cannot sell on Internet without writtin permisson. Cannot sell more than 45% of your buy(includes legal taxes and delivery fees).
2006-08-13 13:24:15 · answer #3 · answered by metsfan988 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ticket brokers do all the time. You just can't sell them outside of the stadium.
2006-08-13 11:22:37 · answer #4 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends on what state you live in. In some states you can sell them for face value or less only. In others, you can sell them for whatever amount of money someone is willing to pay. For instance, in Ohio, sell them for whatever someone is willing to pay. In Tenn. or Ky. it is face value or less only. Check your local laws.
2006-08-13 11:50:47 · answer #5 · answered by bdetraz2112 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sure, but if you get caught, you go to jail for scalping, and usually major league teams dont take too kindly to ticket scalping, youll also be banned from the stadium for life.
2006-08-13 11:27:25 · answer #6 · answered by whoisthisisme 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends on where you live - some states say you can't, while others have no laws governing it.
2006-08-13 11:35:20 · answer #7 · answered by JerH1 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I bought from this site before
2014-06-30 16:50:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legally no that would be considered scalping!
2006-08-13 11:41:03 · answer #9 · answered by ccccccc 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not legally, but I'm sure that you can get away with it.
2006-08-13 11:22:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋