Luke Lukert | [email protected]

March 12, 2024, 10:39 AM

Have you wanted to go to a concert for your favorite artist only to find lawn seats cost thousands of dollars? A bill before Maryland legislators aims to stop ticket scalpers from jacking-up prices.

But it’s being met with some skepticism, especially by sports team season ticket holders.

“Ticket network posted $150 tickets for Alanis Morissette at $7,000. SeatGeek lists Hozier tickets, which we sold for $99, at $5,000,” Audrey Fix Schaefer, communications director for I.M.P. Concerts — which operates Merriweather Post Pavilion, among other D.C.-area concert venues, testified before the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee in Annapolis last month.

She was one of several event venue representatives that urged lawmakers to pass HB 701, which would prohibit selling tickets for more than their initial offering prices by secondary-ticket sellers or by scalping them.

“Hearing time and time again how individuals are trying to buy tickets, and they’re immediately bought up by bots,” said Del. C.T. Wilson (D-Charles County) who sponsors the bill.

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