Live Nation Can ‘Gouge’ Fans on Fees, Ticket Directors Brag

[ap215]

This is the reason why i'm sick and tired of mergers and settlements

Live Nation Can ‘Gouge’ Fans on Fees, Ticket Directors Brag

Two Live Nation Entertainment Inc. ticketing directors bragged about the high fees the company charges fans at its venues, joking in internal messages that the company is “robbing them blind” and that “these people are so stupid” that “I almost feel bad taking advantage of them.”

In a series of chats from 2022, Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold, two regional directors of ticketing for Live Nation amphitheaters, boasted about their ability to raise so-called “ancillary fees” – like parking, lawn chair rentals and VIP access – and still get concertgoers to pay for them. In one exchange, Weinhold gloated about raising VIP parking costs at a Virginia concert venue to $250.

https://archive.is/20260312134716/https ... 0-1505.390

[ZoWie]

As long as consumers are willing to pay top prices for entertainment, the cost will continue to lose all touch with reality. Been to a Dodger game lately? It's into the hundreds of dollars when you add up tickets and parking and overpriced munchies, and still the ballpark is full for every game.

There obviously has to be more consciousness on the demand side. If people said f--k you that's too expensive, prices would drop fast.