By Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
Many states are doing away with anti-scalping laws, but Arkansas currently remains as one of six states with such a law on the books. The others are Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Kentucky, North Carolina and Michigan.
What the future holds for The Natural State on this issue is up in the air. A March 22 House vote on HB1621, to amend 5-62-201 Concerning The Sale Of Certain Tickets In Excess Of Regular Price, was voted down in a 49 to 37 vote with 14 not voting, after read a third time. Whether the matter will come before the legislature again anytime soon is unknown.
The anti-scalping law became an issue, according to the Arkansas Times Record, when police arrested eight people accused of reselling LSU-Arkansas football tickets to a Nov. 24, 2006 game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock that were found to be in excess of state law; tickets priced at $35 were being sold up to $400 apiece.
Those arrests motivated State Rep. Nathan George, a Democrat, to file the bill. He told the paper, “I think when you buy that ticket, that is merchandise that you own. I think you have a choice to do with it what you want.” George said he gave his pair of tickets to his niece. He also noted that he didn’t know any of those arrested.
The Arkansas anti-scalping law prohibits the resale of a ticket in excess of its face value for high school or college athletic events, events held for the benefit of charity, and any music events held in the state. Tickets for any music entertainment events cannot be sold at a greater price than that printed on the ticket or the box office sale price plus any reasonable charge for handling or credit card use, whichever is the greater.
Anyone found violating any provision of this section will be found guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, there will be a fine in any sum not less than $25 nor more than $500; every such sale or offer for sale will be a separate offense.
Arkansas’ anti-scalping law was first enacted in 1947.
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I agree with State Rep. Nathan George. When a ticket is purcashed you own it…along with all the rights and privelages that come with it! I believe so much in the secondary market when it comes to the acquisition of tickets that I wrote a book on the subject. Anyone wanting tips for purchasing tickets may contact me directly or check my book out at http://www.thepoormansticket.com
Fred Salas
Author
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If Arkansas’ anti-scalping law is overturned why would the artist or primary ticket outlet not up the price to the price the market will bear? That would reduce the profit and incentive for secondary outlets to conduct business. Wouldn’t it? And the ones actually working to add value by providing the entertainment and resources would get their fair share. All of it.
Citizens in Arkansas spent some taxpayer money through partial state funding in order to build a nice venue to host top-tier shows in the state. The premise was that these shows would be available to the residents of the region, specifically inclusive of the taxpayers of the State, for their attendance and enjoyment.
Should these same taxpayers be expected to merrily smile and be denied ticket prices near the face value for popular shows after they were the ones who partially funded the building?
Scalpers only add value to their personal bank accounts and nothing more. If you are ok with that type of greed then enjoy it while you can. Because greed is the driving force which will turn this country into a socialist state. Enjoy your freedom while you still have it. And thanks for your exploitation and repudiation of the values that built this country. You and your like will soon be its downfall.
And to be honest, no one should have a gripe with someone who ended up with unwanted tickets who wishes to dump them. I have no issue even if they turned a profit. What I do have a huge problem with is the ticketmaster web site hackers who swallow up all available tickets mere seconds after they go on sale. This is corrupt behavior and should be eradicated through tough laws with tough penalties for those who break them.
I hope Arkansas stands firm on the values that were used to enact the law. I only wish our Legislature would stand up and vote to uphold the law rather than the cowardly no-vote response as did many.
rwhite
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“I hope Arkansas stands firm on the values that were used to enact the law.”
Two words come to my mind when I hear someone speaking of political values from Arkansas… “Bill Clinton”….
Funny comment. But not logical.
I moved here recently and have discovered that folks in Arkansas embrace the jokes on Arkansas about its Clintons, marriage between cousins, 32 Arkansas women = 1 full set of teeth, and so on,…. because it keeps many people from moving here. Especially those with small minds that actually believe the jokes.
As the State official in charge of bringing business to the state once told me, “Its hard to bring professionals to Arkansas. But even harder to get them to leave.”
Little Rock has one of the most charitable populations per capita than any city in the nation. Look it up. Educate yourself.
First of all, most schools WANT to sell out, especially to give the their teams the “home field advantage”. Risking pricing the seats too high only adds to the likelihood of not selling out. Essentially, to many schools, having tickets sold on the secondary market is the lesser of two evils, if they can guarantee a certain amount of revenue and fan support with a sellout (especially if selling out can give them a perennial advantage, thereby increasing their marketability in future years).
well, Fred (and Rep George), maybe you should read the back of the ticket. It’s a license, not merchandise. Like a software program, it can be -non transferrable- or limits can be put on its transfer.
I do not think it matters either way. Do a search for arkansas razorback tickets and see how many sites there are that have tickets being scalped. What use is a law if it is not enforced?
I agree in part that the number of tickets anyone may purchase should be limited. However, there are many people who never get to go to a game and it isn’t because of scalpers…it is because of supply and demand. In fact it is scapling that has allow many people to get to go to just that one game that they otherwise would never get to see. Some only get to go to one in their life, some never. They can’t afford to pay for season tickets every year. Two Season tickets for Arkansas this year is $640 not to mention the expense to get to the game and back and possibly a hotel room – additional expense of $100-$150 minimum alone. So for those it is either pay $800 or more (if you can even get season tickets and right now you cannot) or simple be able to purchase two tickets for just one game and do so probably for less than $150.00. So, I just am not quite convinced of those who feel they have a right to deny any of these people that opportunity. It may be a dad who would like to take his young son to just one game but can’t afford or can’t get season tickets. You wish to deny him the right to pay what he wants in order to get good seats or that once in a lifetime opportunity? The funniest part of all is those same ones who are against someone selling a ticket over face value will be the first ones to pay the outrageous price for a small coke and hot dog at the stadium (very inflated price). The U of A won’t allow you to bring your own food and drink and allow these over inflated prices for candy, cokes and hot dogs and you say nothing. I submit, the price a dad and his son pays for just two tickets to a once in a lifetime game is of far greater value than the price forced to pay for a coke and hot dog. Where is the logic and common sense here?