The city of Cleveland, OH is discussing implementing new ticket resale restrictions aimed at limiting the locations within the city where tickets may be resold.
Responding to complaints by residents, downtown Councilman Joe Cimperman has proposed legislation that would make it illegal for street resale of tickets outside of designated areas, according to published reports. The legislation calls for outdoor ticket resale being restricted to two areas: East Fourth Street between Huron Road and Prospect Avenue and the corner of East Ninth Street and Huron – starting six hours before the ticketed event. Businesses within the downtown area have told Cimperman that outdoor brokers have become aggressive, bothering those attempting to shop and spend time in downtown Cleveland.
Dave Gonsior, a special projects coordinator for the neighborhood, told The Plain Dealer newspaper that people attempting to resell tickets have bothered restaurant patrons eating at outdoor patios as well as badgering passers by who are not looking to buy tickets for events. “People who come down to the neighborhood shouldn’t have to run a gantlet just to cross the street,” he told the Dealer.
Should the bill pass, those found to be in violation of the ordinance would be subject to minor-misdemeanor charges. Similar ordinances currently exist in Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Chicago. According to the Dealer, both the Cleveland Indians and the Cleveland Cavaliers support the measure.
