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DC Lawmakers Face Pressure to Act on Ticket Price Inflation

By  |  October 23, 2025
DC Lawmakers Face Pressure to Act on Ticket Price Inflation

The D.C. Council is set to hold a pivotal hearing Wednesday on proposed legislation that would impose some of the strictest limits in the nation on ticket resale prices. The measure, known as the RESALE Act, has sparked intense debate between concert promoters and ticket platforms over how best to protect fans from inflated prices.

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    Introduced by Councilmember Charles Allen and backed by seven co-sponsors, the RESALE Act would restrict the resale of event tickets to no more than 10 percent above their original face value. According to a statement from city officials, the bill would make Washington, D.C., the second jurisdiction in the United States to adopt such a policy, following Maine’s similar move earlier this week.

    More than 70 individuals — including fans, musicians, and industry representatives — have registered to testify at the 10 a.m. hearing. The packed agenda underscores the growing tensions between venues and resale platforms that argue over fairness, access, and financial impact on both artists and audiences.

    Supporters of the legislation cite dramatic examples of price inflation on secondary markets. According to a statement from I.M.P., which operates major D.C. venues such as the 9:30 Club and The Anthem, tickets that originally sold for under $40 have been resold for thousands of dollars online. The organization reported that the average $37 ticket at the 9:30 Club has fetched as much as $2,100 on resale sites like StubHub. For a recent Lorde concert at The Anthem, tickets priced at $150 were resold for $800 to $1,200.

    Read more: FTC and Seven States Sue Ticketmaster and Live Nation Over Ticketing Practices

    “Ticket scalping has just gotten so far out of control that it’s really harming our customers and our fans,” said Audrey Fix Schaefer, communications director for I.M.P. and president of the National Independent Venue Association. “Just so far this year, $60 million worth of our tickets are advertised on StubHub — $60 million that will not go to any of the parties that have invested in that show.”

    Allen defended the proposal, arguing that unchecked resale practices amount to price gouging that penalizes ordinary fans. “You’ve got these ticket scalpers, middlemen online, and they basically scoop up the tickets,” Allen said. “They drive the cost up for your everyday fan who just wants to go see a show, and the independent venues that we love don’t see a penny of that profit.”

    Opponents, including some resale platforms, have warned that the measure could limit consumer choice and create new problems for ticket distribution. Still, the debate reflects a growing nationwide movement to rein in speculative ticket reselling that many believe has spiraled beyond the control of both artists and regulators.

    Source: WUSA9