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After Vermont and Maine, Massachusetts moves to cap ticket resale at 110% of face value, with Noah Kahan’s backing
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has announced plans to file the "Great Divide Act," legislation that would cap concert and sports ticket resale prices at 110% of face value, following similar moves in Vermont and Maine. The bill, which has the backing of singer Noah Kahan, aims to curb aggressive scalping practices that have driven up ticket costs for fans, and would need approval from the state legislature as part of Healey's closeout supplemental budget.
The proposed law would limit resale platforms such as StubHub and SeatGeek to service fees of no more than 10% of the resale price, ban speculative ticket listings, and prohibit deceptive resale websites. Officials cited Kahan's recent four-night sellout run at Fenway Park, where tickets with a top face value of $400 (average $125) were resold for between $900 and $39,000. The bill's name references Kahan's album and tour "The Great Divide"; he previously campaigned for Vermont's equivalent law. The move follows growing US regulatory scrutiny of ticketing, including a 2025 FTC lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster and an April 2026 jury finding that the companies operated an illegal monopoly.
In short
- Massachusetts proposes capping ticket resale at 110% of face value
- Follows Vermont and Maine; Noah Kahan backs the bill
- Comes amid wider US crackdown on Live Nation/Ticketmaster practices
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Price caps protect ordinary fans from predatory resale practices that have made live entertainment unaffordable for working people. The stark disparities cited—face value of £125–£400 resold for £900–£39,000—represent a genuine market failure where secondary market profiteers capture value that artists and venues intended for reasonable public access. A modest 110% cap preserves legitimate resale flexibility whilst preventing exploitative speculation that locks most citizens out of cultural experiences.
The case against
Price caps distort market efficiency and create perverse consequences without addressing root scarcity. When demand exceeds supply, capping prices does not increase ticket availability; it discourages legitimate resale participation, pushes transactions to unregulated black markets, and prevents the price signals that facilitate efficient allocation to those who value attendance most. Reselling is a property right, and consumers who purchase tickets should be free to recoup their investment or profit according to market conditions rather than arbitrary regulatory limits.
Explained simply
Concert and sports tickets are frequently resold online for far more than their original price, a practice that has become increasingly aggressive over recent years. Fans wanting to attend popular events often find themselves unable to afford resold tickets, which can cost many times their face value. This resale market has drawn growing concern from politicians and consumers alike.
Massachusetts is proposing legislation to limit resale markups to 110% above face value. The proposal follows similar laws passed in Vermont and Maine and would also restrict fees charged by resale platforms and ban certain deceptive practices. The bill requires approval from the state legislature as part of budget negotiations.
The change matters because ticket prices have become a significant barrier to attending live events for many people. The proposal sits within a broader wave of regulatory action against major ticketing companies, reflecting growing frustration with how the industry operates.