FTC sues Ticketmaster, Live Nation on resales

The Federal Trade Commission is suing Ticketmaster and Live Nation for allegedly engaging in illegal ticket vendor practices for its resale business.

- By Cerys Davies

PHELAN M. EBENHACK Associated Press CUSTOMERS say they can't get their hands on tickets and end up paying far more than the original cost.

According to court filings released Thursday, the government agency is claiming that Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, resell tickets illegally acquired by brokers that purchased concert tickets on the primary market, only for those passes to be resold on Ticketmaster for well over their face value.

“American live entertainment is the best in the world and should be accessible to all of us,” said FTC Chairman Andrew N, Ferguson in a statement. “It should not cost an arm and a leg to take the family to a baseball game or attend your favorite musician’s show.”