StubHub Lobbying Reaches Record Highs in California

Key Points:

• StubHub has spent a record $2.6 million on lobbying in California from April to June, aiming to block AB 1720, a bill that would cap concert ticket resale prices at 10 percent above face value for smaller venues.
• AB 1720, introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney, targets ticket scalping by limiting resale price markups, with support from artists, indie venues, and Live Nation Entertainment, despite opposition from resale platforms.
• StubHub’s lobbying efforts include over $1 million paid to the Ticket Policy Forum, which campaigns against AB 1720, arguing the bill unfairly benefits Ticketmaster by exempting primary ticket prices from regulation.
• Critics, including the National Independent Venue Association, accuse StubHub of desperate tactics to protect profits from scalping, highlighting CEO Eric Baker’s hedge fund investments in ticket brokers as a conflict of interest.
• The broader debate addresses rising ticket prices on both primary and secondary markets, with advocates calling for comprehensive reforms to ensure fair access for fans, artists, and venues.