Gonad To Sign Bill Legalizing Online Ticket Scalping

By Sam Bakken in News on Jun 13, 2005 7:03PM

A bill that awaits approval from the Gov. today shows just how much the Illinois General Assembly cares about the Everyman. You know, the Everyman that has to work and can't afford to take time off to wait in line for tickets to an uber-group concert. The House and Senate say, "Fuck 'em! Let him pay 700 dollars for a 23 dollar ticket. But be sure he does so online!"

The bill:

"...does not prohibit a ticket holder from selling a ticket for admission to a baseball game, football game, hockey game, theatre entertainment, or any other amusement for a price more than the price printed on the face of the ticket and for more than the price of the ticket at the box office if the sale is made through an Internet website..."

The bill will amend the Ticket Scalping Act that currently makes such transactions illegal without a license from the secretary of state's office. Under the new bill, if an online auction site (such as eBay or StubHub) is registered with the office, any individual selling a ticket through such site can do so legally without having to register with the state individually.

We thought we'd never say this, but we agree with Clear Channel. Their Midwest chief operating officer told the Tribune, "We oppose it mainly because we think at the end of the day it's going to drive up ticket prices for the consumers over what they were originally priced at." Now we don't buy that Clear Channel gives a shit about the consumer (especially when their reasoning is uttered by a rep through a diamond-encrusted, gold-capped grill)—they just don't like missing out on that money.

Though proponents say the bill gives everyone equal opportunity to induldge in greed and will lower ticket pricess because the market will set them, we say it's just not fair. Plenty of people have easier access to tickets than others and they can take advantage. Plus, what is the difference between online scalping and scalping at the venue the night of a show? No matter how you look at it, it's ripping people off (there's a reason it's called "scalping").

Image: Section of "Scalp dance. Sioux. 263."—a drawing by George Catlin (1796-1872)