Ariana Grande tickets cancelled by Ticketmaster, StubHub. What to know
Arianators are upset at Ticketmaster for canceling their tickets after buying them through resellers. Here is what to know if your ticket was canceled
Whether it’s a concert, play or sporting event in Michigan, it is important to know the law behind reselling tickets since they vary from state to state.
In Michigan, reselling tickets at a higher value is legal — which is called ticket scalping — is legal in Michigan, following Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s repeal of a long-standing ban on ticket resales above face value in 2020.
However, there are limitations to reselling and ways to carry out a safe transaction.
Here’s what to know before reselling your event tickets in Michigan:
Is it legal to resell event tickets in Michigan?
Yes, but sellers must be in actual possession of the tickets and and the tickets can’t be purchased by bots, to protect buyers.
Nationwide, laws on ticket scalping vary, with 16 states explicitly banning the practice.
When did ticket scalping become legal in Michigan?
In 2020, Whitmer signed Senate bill 384 and 385 that made ticket scalping legal in Michigan, ending a long-standing ban against it.
Nationally, reselling tickets is legal under federal law, however, the 2016 Better Online Ticket Sales Act made it illegal to resell tickets using bot technology.
What is the definition of ticket scalping?
Ticket scalping is the act of purchasing an event ticket (from the primary market) then reselling the ticket at a higher price, according to Verified Visitors.
For Michigan residents reselling tickets, here are some factors to think about to do so safely, according to bbb.org:
- Ensure your tickets were bought from a reputable source. Trusted vendors include the event venue or a professional ticket broker.
- Understand ticket broker rules and fees.
- Determine how you will sell your tickets, digitally and/or physically and how you will receive payment.
- Compare fees across resellers. Different ticket reselling platforms charge different commission amounts.
- Watch out for scams, such as lookalike websites.
What are the ethical concerns to ticket scalping?
Though it is legal in most states, ticket scalping has debated ethical concerns for the steeply priced tickets, potential scams and consumer affordability.
The varying levels of state and federal legislation represent the complex nature of ticket scalping and competing views on the need to regulate this practice.
In 2022, singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift, who headlined the most profitable global tour called “The Eras Tour,” saw some tickets resold up to $28,000. It became a huge controversy with Ticketmaster and ticket scalping overall.
How much money is spent in the ticket resale market?
The global resale ticket market size was estimated at about $3.4 billion in 2024 (Web Series Reviews, 2024), a report by the University of Michigan said.
On the other hand, the American Consumer Institute (ACI) found that domestic consumers benefit from the ability to comparison shop for event tickets beyond the sole venue box office or single contracted ticketing agent.
“Consumers often find tickets below face value on the secondary market, where ticket holders can resell their tickets,” the ACI said. “Total savings from these tickets reached over $440 million in 2023. Updated data shows that consumers continue to benefit from the secondary market, with savings totaling over $414 million in 2024 from below-face-value tickets.”
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
