Ticketmaster and the NCAA were served this past week with a class action lawsuit. The suit claims the two parties conspired to force ticket purchasers to pay a non-refundable fee for the chance to buy tickets to the NCAA basketball tournament. The suit called the collaboration an illegal lottery.
The way it works is that you send in your money for the tickets and a $10 service fee. If you get selected, Tickermaster keeps all the money. If you do not they send back the amount for the face value of the tickets, hence keeping the service fee.
We have many thoughts on this:
Why not just up the service fee on the tickets purchased to cover the “service” expense and avoid the whole mess?
It is closer to a ponzi scheme rather than a lottery. Ponzi schemes would come under the same scrutiny.
If we could come up with our own lottery, we would. Good money in that.
Why is anyone getting so worked up about $10?
We can answer the last one. We have said this before. People believe they have an inalienable right to purchase tickets to an event. This is why the “scalping moniker” stays with the ticket brokering business. As long as this moniker exist, people will choose not to come into this easy money business and keep the door open for us.
http://www.hbsslaw.com/NCAA
http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/10838073
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=29523
http://www.wibw.com/sports/headlines/19196554.html
To learn how to make money being a ticket broker, visit www.MyTicketBiz.com.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
All politics are local
The players
• Salvatore F. DiMasi – Massachusetts Speaker of the House
• Richard D. Vitale – friend of DiMasi, newly registered Massachusetts lobbyist
• William F. Galvin – Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
• Massachusetts Association of Ticket Brokers (MATB) – people like us, but they all do this full time
MATB paid Vitale $60,000 in 2007 to work as a lobbyist. Vitale said he was a “strategist” not a “lobbyist”. In 2006, Vitale loaned DiMasi $250,000 at a very low rate for DiMasi’s condo. DiMasi could not have taken the loan if Vitale were a lobbyist.
In 2007 Vitale and DiMasi pushed through legislation that would deregulate the ticket industry. The bill has not passed the state senate yet. Galvin is investigating exactly who did what.
If one were to research the Vitale / DiMasi relationship, it would not take long to realize there was some back-scratching going on. It just happens to surface with the Ticket Broker Bill being at the forefront.
Bills like this are becoming more and more commonplace. They will continue to do so. The occasional Hannah Montana parent explosion and corrupted politician only slow the progress but do not stop it.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/05/17/ticket_brokers_paid_vitale_60000
To learn how to make money being a ticket broker, visit www.MyTicketBiz.com.
• Salvatore F. DiMasi – Massachusetts Speaker of the House
• Richard D. Vitale – friend of DiMasi, newly registered Massachusetts lobbyist
• William F. Galvin – Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
• Massachusetts Association of Ticket Brokers (MATB) – people like us, but they all do this full time
MATB paid Vitale $60,000 in 2007 to work as a lobbyist. Vitale said he was a “strategist” not a “lobbyist”. In 2006, Vitale loaned DiMasi $250,000 at a very low rate for DiMasi’s condo. DiMasi could not have taken the loan if Vitale were a lobbyist.
In 2007 Vitale and DiMasi pushed through legislation that would deregulate the ticket industry. The bill has not passed the state senate yet. Galvin is investigating exactly who did what.
If one were to research the Vitale / DiMasi relationship, it would not take long to realize there was some back-scratching going on. It just happens to surface with the Ticket Broker Bill being at the forefront.
Bills like this are becoming more and more commonplace. They will continue to do so. The occasional Hannah Montana parent explosion and corrupted politician only slow the progress but do not stop it.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/05/17/ticket_brokers_paid_vitale_60000
To learn how to make money being a ticket broker, visit www.MyTicketBiz.com.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
It’s the Economy
Times are tough. Oil is $126 a barrel. Gas is closing in on $4.00 a gallon. Bread prices are up 25%. Eggs prices are up 50%.
While we are not economist, it seems pretty obvious that we are in a recession. We never actually know that we are in one until after it is over. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters with a decline of GDP. Since figures for any given quarter do not come out until months after the quarter is done, we do not know we are in a recession until it is over.
Quarterly reports aside, there is no argument that times are tough. Here is one that goes against the grain. MLB officials say attendance is 2.6 percent ahead of record-breaking figures from last season. There does seem to be some evidence that spending habits are changing a bit when it some to how they spend money getting to the game and once they are at the game. MLB does not publish beer sales so it is hard to really determine that number.
One does not have to look far to hear stories about how people are tightening their belts. We are in the middle of the concert and baseball seasons. Out own ticket sales are brisk for each. This only makes us more excited when the economy rebounds a bit.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jo-mlbandrecession043008&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
http://sportsline.com/columns/story/10786518
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/sports/5770530.html
To learn how to make money being a ticket broker, visit www.MyTicketBiz.com.
While we are not economist, it seems pretty obvious that we are in a recession. We never actually know that we are in one until after it is over. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters with a decline of GDP. Since figures for any given quarter do not come out until months after the quarter is done, we do not know we are in a recession until it is over.
Quarterly reports aside, there is no argument that times are tough. Here is one that goes against the grain. MLB officials say attendance is 2.6 percent ahead of record-breaking figures from last season. There does seem to be some evidence that spending habits are changing a bit when it some to how they spend money getting to the game and once they are at the game. MLB does not publish beer sales so it is hard to really determine that number.
One does not have to look far to hear stories about how people are tightening their belts. We are in the middle of the concert and baseball seasons. Out own ticket sales are brisk for each. This only makes us more excited when the economy rebounds a bit.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jo-mlbandrecession043008&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
http://sportsline.com/columns/story/10786518
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/sports/5770530.html
To learn how to make money being a ticket broker, visit www.MyTicketBiz.com.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
TicketMaster again…
Some time back Ticketmaster set out to buy TicketsNow for $265M. This led to concern for ticket brokers. They feared that Ticketmaster, the originator of many tickets, would now directly affect the inventory available on the secondary ticket market. More directly, ticket brokers fear that Ticketmaster will not sell all the good seats and release them to the public via TicketsNow. Ticketmaster could essentially cut Ticket Brokers out of many of the high revenue events and listings. There have been many complaints filed by Ticket Brokers to the US Justice Department with claims of Ticketmaster monopolizing the secondary ticket market.
Ticketmaster has been quiet on exactly what it will, or will not, do.
The National Association of Ticket Brokers has recently sent a letter to Ticketmaster asking them to publicly declare their intentions and business practices as it pertains to the relationship between Ticketmaster and TicketsNow.
We fully expect Ticketmaster to push the envelope as far as they can to control the secondary ticket market. Why wouldn't they? Are they there to ensure the livelihood of Ticket Brokers or to make more money for themselves? As they push the envelope, except a lot more newsletters about the impending lawsuits.
Developing…
To learn how to make money being a ticket broker, visit www.MyTicketBiz.com.
Ticketmaster has been quiet on exactly what it will, or will not, do.
The National Association of Ticket Brokers has recently sent a letter to Ticketmaster asking them to publicly declare their intentions and business practices as it pertains to the relationship between Ticketmaster and TicketsNow.
We fully expect Ticketmaster to push the envelope as far as they can to control the secondary ticket market. Why wouldn't they? Are they there to ensure the livelihood of Ticket Brokers or to make more money for themselves? As they push the envelope, except a lot more newsletters about the impending lawsuits.
Developing…
To learn how to make money being a ticket broker, visit www.MyTicketBiz.com.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
This is American Idol
We think David Cook is going to win. That means put your money on someone else. Regardless, we now look forward to the American Idol concert series. This has become a welcome addition to the summer concert tour. Each of the last couple of years this event has enjoyed very brisk concert ticket sales. Here is the rundown for the Venues. Sales start on some of the venues in mid May.
July 1 Glendale, AZ jobing.com Arena
July 2 San Diego, CA San Diego Sports Arena
July 3 Fresno, CA SaveMart Center
July 5 Las Vegas, NV Thomas & Mack Center
July 7 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
July 8 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose
July 9 Sacramento, CA ARCO Arena
July 11 Portland, OR Rose Garden
July 12 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome
July 14 West Valley City, UT The "E" Center
July 18 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
July 19 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
July 20 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
July 22 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse
July 23 Cincinnati, OH US Bank Arena
July 24 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
July 26 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
July 27 Rochester, NY BlueCross Arena
July 29 Pittsburgh, PA Mellon Arena
July 30 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
August 2 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall
August 4 Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum
August 6 Albany, NY Times Union Center
August 8 Hartford, CT XL Center
August 9 Worcester, MA DCU Center
August 10 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Center
August 12 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
August 13 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
August 14 Washington DC Verizon Center
August 16 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena
August 17 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Bobcats Arena
August 18 Duluth, GA Arena at Gwinnett Center
August 20 Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center
August 21 Tampa, FL St Pete Times Forum
August 24 Houston, TX Toyota Center
August 25 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
August 26 Bossier City, LA CenturyTel Center
August 28 Oklahoma City, OK Ford Center
August 29 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
August 31 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
September 2 Green Bay, WI Resch Center
September 3 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
September 4 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center
September 6 Bridgeport, CT Arena at Harbor Yard
September 7 Providence, RI Dunkin Donuts Center
September 8 Wilkes Barre, PA Wachovia Arena
September 10 Ft. Wayne, IN Allen County Memorial Coliseum
September 11 Evansville, IN Roberts Stadium
September 13 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
To learn how to make money being a ticket broker, visit www.MyTicketBiz.com.
July 1 Glendale, AZ jobing.com Arena
July 2 San Diego, CA San Diego Sports Arena
July 3 Fresno, CA SaveMart Center
July 5 Las Vegas, NV Thomas & Mack Center
July 7 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
July 8 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose
July 9 Sacramento, CA ARCO Arena
July 11 Portland, OR Rose Garden
July 12 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome
July 14 West Valley City, UT The "E" Center
July 18 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
July 19 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
July 20 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
July 22 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse
July 23 Cincinnati, OH US Bank Arena
July 24 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
July 26 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
July 27 Rochester, NY BlueCross Arena
July 29 Pittsburgh, PA Mellon Arena
July 30 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
August 2 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall
August 4 Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum
August 6 Albany, NY Times Union Center
August 8 Hartford, CT XL Center
August 9 Worcester, MA DCU Center
August 10 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Center
August 12 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
August 13 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
August 14 Washington DC Verizon Center
August 16 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena
August 17 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Bobcats Arena
August 18 Duluth, GA Arena at Gwinnett Center
August 20 Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center
August 21 Tampa, FL St Pete Times Forum
August 24 Houston, TX Toyota Center
August 25 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
August 26 Bossier City, LA CenturyTel Center
August 28 Oklahoma City, OK Ford Center
August 29 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
August 31 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
September 2 Green Bay, WI Resch Center
September 3 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
September 4 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center
September 6 Bridgeport, CT Arena at Harbor Yard
September 7 Providence, RI Dunkin Donuts Center
September 8 Wilkes Barre, PA Wachovia Arena
September 10 Ft. Wayne, IN Allen County Memorial Coliseum
September 11 Evansville, IN Roberts Stadium
September 13 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
To learn how to make money being a ticket broker, visit www.MyTicketBiz.com.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Stubhub Changes for MLB
We have been waiting to write this passage for some time till we had some more data. We can go no longer.
Some time back MLB and StubHub entered an agreement to allow StubHub to be the online ticket reseller for MLB teams. This has lead to numerous changes that affect our lives. Overall it serves us well.
Prior to this, MLB teams had their own resale site. Some built their own, other with Ticketmaster and some with another third party. When it was like this, the team site and Stubhub competed with each other. As a ticket broker, you had to list on only one or be very diligent about removing your listings.
Now the team resale sites have been shut down. The teams have encouraged their season ticket holders to sell through Stubhub. They have also encourages after-market ticket buyers to go to Stubhub. If you are listing on Stubhub, this is good because a lot more people are buying there.
Now for the transition period. Stubhub has been cautious about accepting consignments. The goal is not to take consignments, but to accept the e-tickets from the team. The short term problem is not every team is set up to deliver the e-tickets to Stubhub. Some are now ready, but not all. The end result is we can have tickets expiring 3 – 5 days before an event when a year ago those listings were good until game day.
Soon all teams will be able to send e-tickets to Stubhub. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
To learn how to make money being a ticket broker, visit www.MyTicketBiz.com.
Some time back MLB and StubHub entered an agreement to allow StubHub to be the online ticket reseller for MLB teams. This has lead to numerous changes that affect our lives. Overall it serves us well.
Prior to this, MLB teams had their own resale site. Some built their own, other with Ticketmaster and some with another third party. When it was like this, the team site and Stubhub competed with each other. As a ticket broker, you had to list on only one or be very diligent about removing your listings.
Now the team resale sites have been shut down. The teams have encouraged their season ticket holders to sell through Stubhub. They have also encourages after-market ticket buyers to go to Stubhub. If you are listing on Stubhub, this is good because a lot more people are buying there.
Now for the transition period. Stubhub has been cautious about accepting consignments. The goal is not to take consignments, but to accept the e-tickets from the team. The short term problem is not every team is set up to deliver the e-tickets to Stubhub. Some are now ready, but not all. The end result is we can have tickets expiring 3 – 5 days before an event when a year ago those listings were good until game day.
Soon all teams will be able to send e-tickets to Stubhub. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
To learn how to make money being a ticket broker, visit www.MyTicketBiz.com.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
More Hannah Montana fallout
The Hannah Montana bill has passed the Minnesota Senate.
Due to the uproar from many young kids, and their parents, who could not get tickets to Hanna Montana shows, a bill was passed in the Minnesota Senate making it illegal to use ticket software that enables “bots” to purchase tickets.
A “bot” is a piece of code that simulates a web request so a user does not have to sit at a keyboard and browse the site. A bot can actually simulate multiple web sessions at once. These bots are common internet items and account for a significant piece of web traffic. Bots themselves are not bad, it all depends on what they are programmed to do. Spammers use bots to find unprotected computers to hijack to send their spam from. Google and Yahoo use bots to find out what is on webpages to include in their search results.
The Minnesota House has not yet voted on the bill.
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=504555
http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/17420514.html
To learn how to make money being a ticket broker, visit www.MyTicketBiz.com.
Due to the uproar from many young kids, and their parents, who could not get tickets to Hanna Montana shows, a bill was passed in the Minnesota Senate making it illegal to use ticket software that enables “bots” to purchase tickets.
A “bot” is a piece of code that simulates a web request so a user does not have to sit at a keyboard and browse the site. A bot can actually simulate multiple web sessions at once. These bots are common internet items and account for a significant piece of web traffic. Bots themselves are not bad, it all depends on what they are programmed to do. Spammers use bots to find unprotected computers to hijack to send their spam from. Google and Yahoo use bots to find out what is on webpages to include in their search results.
The Minnesota House has not yet voted on the bill.
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=504555
http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/17420514.html
To learn how to make money being a ticket broker, visit www.MyTicketBiz.com.
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