Denver's anti-scalping law could be scrapped
Councilman says restrictions mainly benefit brokers
By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 15, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Ticket brokers may no longer have exclusive rights in Denver.
City Councilman Michael Hancock is leading an effort to repeal Denver's anti-scalping laws.
Hancock said his proposal would reverse the city's long- standing law that prohibits the sale of tickets above face value, among other changes.
"Demand is better than supply at this point in time," he said.
"We've had numerous incidents with major events and concerts taking place here where (ticket) brokers have purchased up the tickets and local folks can't get to them. They have to go to brokers to get them," Hancock said. "So, I think, hopefully, this will level the market a little bit for folks in Denver trying to buy tickets."
Hancock emphasized that the proposal is still in the early stages and that questions remain about the perimeter around sports venues and other locations where tickets could be sold. He said he doesn't want people who already have tickets to be "accosted" by those who are trying to sell them or for entrances to be clogged.
"The teams do have concerns about where people can sell these tickets, and the city has concerns about where our ability lies to enforce that kind of a perimeter," he said. "We're still in discussions right now."
Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said scalping has been problematic and that officers enforce the city's anti-scalping laws at major sporting events and concerts.
"We have a vice unit that goes out, and they enforce the law based on the scalping ordinances on the books," he said. "If it changes, we'll adjust accordingly, but at this point in time, we do enforce it."
Hancock said the Internet has essentially made the city's anti- scalping laws obsolete.
"You can go online and buy tickets now from the brokers, and that's why brokers are snapping up these tickets when they go on sale in Denver," he said. "The bottom line is that we are no longer giving them exclusive rights."
chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099
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August 15, 2008
7:45 a.m.
Suggest removal
climber4life writes:
Sounds good to me.