Ticket resale labelled ‘‘huge con’’

Event promoters are demanding that the Commerce Commission act to protect the public from ‘‘greedy’’ ticket resale sites.

The Entertainment Operators Association (NEOA), a collective organisation of promoters, is specifically concerned about the rise of Ticketmaster Resale, a website that allows people to sell their sports and music tickets at vastly inflated prices.

NEOA head Ian Magan described the process of buying tickets and then reselling it via Ticketmaster as a ‘‘huge con’’.

‘‘We think it is shocking because it is taking advantage of the public’s lack of knowledge of the ticketing process and it’s based on pure greed.’’

United States company Live Nation Entertainment Inc, one of the world’s largest producers of live music, is the holding company of Ticketmaster NZ which operates Ticketmaster Resale.

It also operates major Auckland venue Vector Arena.

In 2015 secondary ticketing sales generated $1.2 billion in revenue for Live Nation.

Reports in Italy alleged last November that Live Nation had direct dealings with a range of secondary ticketing partners who resold tickets at inflated prices.

However, Roberto de Luca, managing director of Live Nation Italy, publicly stated that it only issued: ‘‘a very limited number of tickets on other sites’’.

‘‘On the resale site they could be selling them for whatever amount and you as the promoter have no control of that. It’s dodgy,’’ said Magan.

Tickets for Guns ‘n Roses show at Auckland’s Western Springs are currently selling on resale site – Viagogo for between $147 and $391. They are retailing on Ticketmaster Resale for between $127.78 and $638.88

A Ticketmaster Resale spokesperson said the company It is taking advantage of the public’s lack of knowledge. ‘‘provides a platform for fans to sell unwanted tickets and a safe purchase option for events that might otherwise be sold out.’’

But, on its own website, Ticketmaster Resale admits to reselling the tickets: ‘‘We may, on occasion, place tickets on the website on behalf of [or as agent for] third parties.’’

‘‘We believe these brokers don’t exist. We believe it is the agency lifting tickets from our manifest we’ve set up for the concert. They’re holding them, then reselling them closer to the concert’s date at a much higher price. That’s when it becomes scalping,’’ Magan said.

Leading New Zealand promoter, Manolo Echave, described it as ‘‘a rort’’.

‘‘There’s consumer legislation to protect the public for nearly everything but nothing has been done in terms of the entertainment industry.’’

Live Nation Entertainment did not respond to requests for comment.