Sports Fans Coalition Statement on the Live Nation-Ticketmaster Jury Verdict

ports Fans Coalition Executive Director Brian Hess issued the following statement after a jury found Live Nation-Ticketmaster guilty of operating an illegal monopoly:

"The scoreboard doesn't lie. A jury just confirmed what every fan has known for years: Ticketmaster is an illegal monopoly. This is the first step toward justice for every fan who's ever been ripped off.”

“But the final whistle hasn't blown. Live Nation will likely appeal, and it's already flooding state capitols with lobbyists pushing anticompetitive ‘price cap’ legislation that would give Ticketmaster the same monopoly power the jury just ruled against. Lawmakers should see right through this now and reject any bill they support.”

"The fight wasn’t easy. We’ve called for this outcome for many years, and have dealt with all the ups and downs of this case – notably the ‘big-money bullying’ that ousted AAG Abigail Slater and when the DOJ ‘caved to political pressure.’” When all hope was lost we rallied behind the courageous state Attorneys General who kept the fight alive. We commend each and everyone of them!”  

"The only acceptable remedy from this point is breaking up Live Nation and Ticketmaster and rejecting their anti-competitive policy proposals. That’s the only way to make sure fans, not monopolists, come first.”