Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers joins trade commission in lawsuit against Ticketmaster

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers is joining the Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit against Ticketmaster.

In a press release on Wednesday, the Attorney General’s Office said the lawsuit is also against Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, and aims to stop deceptive pricing that hurts both performers and fans alike.

The lawsuit alleges Ticketmaster violated state and federal law regarding its ticket prices with deceptive fees, deceptive ticket limit practices and BOTS Act violations.

Hilgers said for years Ticketmaster has been deceptively displaying low ticket prices to consumers, only to ultimately charge much more.

He said some of the fees can increase the ticket price by 80% or more.

Hilgers also said Ticketmaster allows ticket brokers to exceed ticket limits. This deprives ordinary fans of access to lower-priced tickets, according to Hilgers.

The Better Online Ticket Sales Act regulates ticket sales, including prohibitions on bot-buying, ticket limit circumvention, and other ticket-buying practices that unfairly and unlawfully increase ticket prices for consumers

Hilgers said Ticketmaster knowingly allows violations of its purchasing rules and protections, and allows brokers to post those tickets for resale on Ticketmaster to boost profits.

Ticketmaster even admits to turning a blind eye to brokers’ mass ticket purchases as a matter of policy, according to Hilgers.

“We are proud to join the Federal Trade Commission and our sister states in protecting performers and fans from unlawful practices that drive up ticket prices,” Hilgers said. “Consumers deserve access to fair ticket prices from the largest ticket company in America. We are grateful to our federal partners for the opportunity to join them in standing up for performers and fans.” 

Hilgers said the lawsuit seeks to put a stop to Ticketmaster’s unlawful practices, impose penalties for violating state laws, and provide all other available monetary relief.