Maine Lawmakers Ignored Fans. Now We’re Urging Gov. Mills to Veto LD 913
Earlier this year, LD 913 was introduced that would have given fans the right to transfer their tickets. Then, the monopoly and its venue partners hijacked the bill and turned it into a bill that caps resale prices, which exposes Maine’s sports fans to immense amounts of fraud. In response, thousands of Mainers stood up. They wrote, called, and emailed their legislators with a clear message: “Reject LD 913.” And what did the Maine Legislature do? They ignored them. They sided with Ticketmaster and its allies instead of the fans who simply want a fair chance to see their favorite teams, artists, and events live.
In a letter sent this week, we urged Governor Mills to do what lawmakers wouldn’t — stand with the fans and veto LD 913.
LD 913: From Pro-Fan to Pro-Monopoly
LD 913 didn’t start out this way. When it was first introduced, it aimed to give fans control of their tickets. However, once Big Ticket got their hands on the bill, it ceded a massive amount of power to the monopoly by allowing them to dictate what fans can do with tickets they’ve already paid for. Want to give your Portland Hearts of Pine tickets to a friend? Tough luck.
That’s not consumer protection. That’s corporate control.
Price Caps = Higher Fraud, Less Competition
Supporters claim the bill’s resale price caps help fans. We call foul.
Research shows that price caps don’t protect consumers — they make things worse. In places like Ireland and Australia, fraud rates have exploded under similar caps. In the UK, implementing such policies could result in skyrocketing fraud costs of over $6.5 billion annually.
And here's the kicker: 70% of ticket fraud hits digital tickets — the same kind of tickets monopolies like Ticketmaster force on us. With Maine’s reliance on digital ticketing, this bill opens the floodgates for scams and fan frustration.
The People Spoke — and Were Ignored
Here’s what really stings. After the bill was drastically rewritten, the legislature didn’t even hold a public hearing on the new version. They didn’t give fans or advocates the chance to properly weigh in on the bill. So, thousands of Mainers sent in letters, demanding lawmakers protect their rights and vote no on this monopoly power grab..
They were clear. They were passionate. And they were ignored.
LD 913 is no longer a fan bill. It’s a monopoly protection act, plain and simple.
Governor Mills, It’s Time to Stand With Fans
Maine’s sports fans need a champion. Governor Mills has an opportunity to show she stands with the everyday fan, not multi-billion-dollar monopolies. We’re calling on her to veto LD 913 and keep Maine’s ticketing system fair, open, and competitive.