StubHub Is Spending Millions Trying to Stop a Bill That Would Cap Concert Ticket Resale Prices
StubHub has sharply increased its lobbying in California as lawmakers consider a bill that would restrict concert ticket resale mark-ups. The proposed law, AB 1720, is intended to curb ticket touting by limiting resale prices, while StubHub argues that its marketplace gives fans greater choice and access.
The company spent nearly $2.6 million on California lobbying between April and June, its highest quarterly total in the state and the second-largest lobbying spend overall that quarter. It has spent $3.4 million so far this year; meanwhile, the bill has been narrowed to venues with capacities of 3,000 or fewer and is supported by artist, independent venue and Live Nation-linked groups. Similar price-cap measures have recently passed in Maine, Vermont and Washington, DC.
- StubHub spent record sums lobbying against California resale-price restrictions.
- AB 1720 would cap resale prices at 10% above face value.
- The proposal now applies only to smaller venues.
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Concert tickets are usually first sold by promoters, venues or official ticketing companies, but buyers can later resell them through online marketplaces. This secondary market can offer tickets after official sales have ended, though prices may rise well above their original face value when demand is high.
StubHub is one of the largest resale platforms, while artists, venues, promoters and consumer groups have differing views on how resale should be regulated. A price cap would limit how much sellers could charge above face value, potentially affecting ticket availability, resale profits and the way smaller venues manage high-demand events.