Senator Jose Peralta supports measures to curb “skyrocketing resale ticket prices” to sports events and entertainment venues

In light of some of the costliest World Series tickets seen in history, especially for the New York Mets homes games, State Senator Jose Peralta (D-Queens) supports measures designed to curb “skyrocketing resale ticket prices” to attend sports events and other popular entertainment venues. Senator Peralta’s district is home to Citi Field.

Senator Peralta is a co-sponsor of a bill that would cap profits on the resale of ticket prices at twenty percent above their face value. The bill, S.192, is sponsored by State Senator Daniel Squadron (D-Manhattan-Brooklyn).

“As the Fall Classic heads to Citi Field tomorrow, there are thousands of Mets fans, the regulars who go to the games throughout the season, that are turned away from the opportunity to buy tickets to watch their beloved Amazins,” said Senator Peralta. “Some reports point out that the cheapest tickets to see the Mets at Citi Field against the Royals now cost at least $600, and that is an out of reach price for working class New Yorkers."

Senator Peralta described the ticket resale prices surrounding the World Series at Citi Field as “exorbitantly unfair to consumers” an average cost of more than $1,600 per ticket. “Scalpers and people using automated ticket purchasing software are buying tickets that would have ended up in the hands of true Mets fans. Today it's the Mets, but tomorrow could be the Knicks, Islanders, Yankees, or Rangers,” added Senator Peralta. “We need to stop this practice or working class fans will never be able to watch their team win a championship."     

He reminded that some scalpers even resold tickets during Pope Francis visit to New York City.  

In 2007, the State Legislature lifted restrictions on the ticket resale market in favor of creating an open marketplace.  Unfortunately, changes in the law have resulted in unintended consequences that have failed to drive the resale prices of tickets downward. “I want to commend Senator Squadron for taking up this issue geared toward protecting consumers and putting an end to this unfair market” said Senator Peralta.

“As our whole city's rooting for the Mets, concerns about our state's ticket reselling law keep coming,” said State Senator Daniel Squadron. "Thank you to Senator Peralta for continuing to draw attention to this important issue.”

Senator Peralta added, “Hard-working Mets fans, unfortunately, will have to settle with watching their Amazin’ Mets win on television. They were simply priced out of cheering for their team like they do during the regular season at Citi Field, due to these outrageous ticket resale prices.”