Washington, D.C. has passed legislation that is set to make the nation’s capital the most stringent anti-scalping marketplace in the U.S. for concert tickets.
The District of Columbia Council unanimously passed the RESALE Act on Tuesday, a piece of legislation that most notably will cap ticket resale prices for concerts in the city at 10 percent above the ticket’s original face value, a move that could significantly curb markups on secondary ticketing sites such as StubHub and Vivid Seats.
The act also includes a ban on speculative tickets, the controversial strategy where ticket brokers list tickets for sale that they don’t actually possess yet. Further, those who sell more than 50 concert tickets per year on resale markets will be required to register with D.C. to continue operating.
Washington adopting these policies is particularly noteworthy as D.C. is one of the bigger touring stops in the music business, home to larger venues like the Capital One Arena and Nationals Park, as well as famed smaller spots like the 9:30 club. The city’s policies could serve as a framework for how similarly sized markets could operate.
“Washington, D.C. has raised the bar for ticketing reform nationwide by establishing the strongest consumer protection framework in the country that should be replicated in every state,” Stephen Parker, Executive Director of the National Independent Venue Association, said in a statement. “From the resale price cap to stronger safeguards against deceptive ticketing practices, the RESALE Act puts fans first and strengthens the District’s independent stages.”
