FTC Lawsuit: Ticketmaster Accused of Enabling "Rigged" Ticket Sales

Case Overview: The Federal Trade Commission and several states are suing Ticketmaster and Live Nation, alleging they enabled ticket brokers to bypass sales limits and profit from reselling tickets, which inflated costs for fans.

Consumers Affected: U.S. consumers who purchased tickets to live events through Ticketmaster.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Many fans know the frustration of trying to grab tickets to a big show, only to find them gone within seconds and relisted online for double or triple the price. 

Now, the Federal Trade Commission and several states are suing Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, claiming the company allowed that very system to flourish.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges Ticketmaster coordinated with ticket brokers who bypassed limits meant to keep sales fair. Regulators say the company not only failed to enforce its own rules but also profited when those tickets were resold on its platform with added fees.

Ticketmaster Allegedly Ignored Ticket Limits

The complaint argues Ticketmaster told the public that strict caps applied—such as four or six tickets per customer—while knowing those rules weren’t enforced. Brokers allegedly set up thousands of fake accounts, used specialized tools to mask their identities, and scooped up tickets in large quantities.

According to the lawsuit, Ticketmaster executives were aware of the practice. Internal messages cited in the complaint suggest the company “turned a blind eye” to violations, allowing resellers to flood the secondary market. 

This meant more tickets passed through Ticketmaster systems a second time, generating even more fees.

Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen Concerts Cited as Examples

The complaint gives concrete examples of how this worked. Between March and August 2023, one broker group allegedly purchased more than 2,200 tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour across 38 concerts. 

For a single show, the group used 49 separate accounts to secure 273 tickets, despite a six-ticket limit. Regulators estimate that reselling those tickets brought in more than $1.2 million in profit.

A Bruce Springsteen concert in New Jersey was also targeted. Despite a four-ticket limit, brokers allegedly bought and resold more than 1,500 tickets. Regulators argue these examples reveal a pattern that left average fans competing against well-resourced resellers with little chance of success.

Fans Paid More Due to Fees and Inflated Prices

By letting brokers work around its system, the lawsuit claims Ticketmaster drove up costs for fans twice. Not only did consumers face inflated resale prices, but they also had to pay Ticketmaster service fees again on the resold tickets.

FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson said in a statement that American families should be able to attend live events without excessive costs. “It should not cost an arm and a leg to take the family to a baseball game or attend your favorite musician’s show,” Ferguson said.

Ticketmaster controls at least 80% of ticketing for major U.S. venues, according to regulators. Between 2019 and 2024, nearly $83 billion in tickets were sold through its platform. Fees can add as much as 44% to the advertised price, generating billions for the company during that time.

This dominance has fueled growing scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators, particularly after the Eras Tour ticketing meltdown in 2022, when Ticketmaster’s site crashed during presales. Critics argue the lack of competition leaves fans with few alternatives and venues pressured into exclusive deals.

Regulators Say Brokers Bypassed Security with Sophisticated Tools

According to the FTC, brokers used fake identities, multiple credit cards, spoofed IP addresses, and even SIM technology to capture verification codes. These methods allegedly let them break through Ticketmaster’s purchase controls and grab tickets faster than everyday buyers.

Regulators say this conduct violated the FTC Act as well as the Better Online Ticket Sales Act, a law passed in 2016 to curb the use of automated bots in ticketing. The lawsuit claims Ticketmaster not only tolerated these tactics but also provided tools that made bulk resales easier.

The lawsuit doesn’t just address bulk buying. Regulators also point to fees, which often aren’t revealed until the final checkout screen. From 2019 to 2024, Ticketmaster collected $16 billion in service charges. 

A new rule that took effect in May now requires the company to display the full cost upfront. While transparency has improved, regulators argue fans are still paying more than they should.

The FTC lawsuit is not Ticketmaster’s only legal challenge. Last November, another case accused the company of tricking concertgoers into spending more than face value for tickets, in violation of Illinois law. That lawsuit, filed in California, claims Ticketmaster’s practices breached the Illinois Ticket Sale and Resale Act, which prohibits selling event tickets above the printed price.

Together, the lawsuits paint a picture of a company facing growing legal pressure on multiple fronts over how it handles ticket sales and pricing.

What the FTC and Consumers Want From the Case

The FTC lawsuit asks the court to stop Ticketmaster from continuing these practices and to impose financial penalties. Regulators say they want to restore fairness to ticket sales, ensuring advertised limits are enforced and prices reflect what’s actually available to fans.

For consumers, the outcome could shape how tickets are sold for some of the biggest events in music, sports, and theater.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Federal Trade Commission, et al. v. Live Nation Entertainment, et al.
• Case Number: 2:25-cv-08884
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• Elizabeth C. Scott, Taylor H. Arana, Claire E.W. Stewart, and Aaron M. Schue (Federal Trade Commission)

Have you ever tried to buy concert tickets and ended up paying resale prices? Share your experience in the comments below.