2008 Woodie Awards
UA pledges action against scalpers
Adam O'Hern
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: News
The Foo Fighters will come to Barnhill Arena today for the spring concert set up by the UA Headliner Concerts Committee, but not all of the students who picked up free tickets will be attending.
University officials were alerted that several students were scalping - selling at higher than face value - their tickets, an action illegal in Arkansas.
"Just the act of reselling the ticket is illegal, regardless of who that ticket is sold to," said Scott Flanagin, UA coordinator of communication and outreach.
Although students received their tickets at no cost because of activity fees, the going price on Ticketmaster.com is $37.50.
"Tickets are being scalped at an online auction site for up to $245, but we do not know how many of them are student tickets," Flanagin said.
When demand exceeds supply, prices rise, in this case, resulting with rise from $37.50 to $245.
"There are no losers or victims [in scalping]," economist Stanley Brue said. "Both buyer and seller benefit from the transaction."
Arkansas law "prohibits scalping tickets to musical events but allows resellers to impose a reasonable service charge," according to a 2006 OLR Research Report.
"The individual who buys a ticket from a student with 'student' printed on it has made an illegal purchase, regardless if they are a student or not," Flanagin said.
It is still unknown how the student tickets scalped online would be used by those without a student ID.
"The person who buys the ticket may not know they are buying a student ticket and that they need a student ID to get into the concert," Flanagin said.
University officials are trying to compile a list of students known to be ticket scalpers, but it is proving to be more difficult than imagined, he said.
"We have no idea how many students are suspected of scalping their tickets," Flanagin said. "There are many Internet-based and other avenues available for students to try and scalp the tickets."
The penalty for ticket scalping is a fine ranging from $25 to $500 per ticket scalped, Flanagin said.
Some students are concerned about the potential fallout from this situation.
"Students shouldn't take advantage of the university's generosity" UA student Spencer Hastings said. "All I can say is that I'd be upset if I had to pay the costs for some else being greedy."
Meanwhile, other students feel that the university is taking the situation too far.
"It seems almost ridiculous to fine these students," UA student Sam Kincannon said. "There's got to be a better way to punish them."
University officials were alerted that several students were scalping - selling at higher than face value - their tickets, an action illegal in Arkansas.
"Just the act of reselling the ticket is illegal, regardless of who that ticket is sold to," said Scott Flanagin, UA coordinator of communication and outreach.
Although students received their tickets at no cost because of activity fees, the going price on Ticketmaster.com is $37.50.
"Tickets are being scalped at an online auction site for up to $245, but we do not know how many of them are student tickets," Flanagin said.
When demand exceeds supply, prices rise, in this case, resulting with rise from $37.50 to $245.
"There are no losers or victims [in scalping]," economist Stanley Brue said. "Both buyer and seller benefit from the transaction."
Arkansas law "prohibits scalping tickets to musical events but allows resellers to impose a reasonable service charge," according to a 2006 OLR Research Report.
"The individual who buys a ticket from a student with 'student' printed on it has made an illegal purchase, regardless if they are a student or not," Flanagin said.
It is still unknown how the student tickets scalped online would be used by those without a student ID.
"The person who buys the ticket may not know they are buying a student ticket and that they need a student ID to get into the concert," Flanagin said.
University officials are trying to compile a list of students known to be ticket scalpers, but it is proving to be more difficult than imagined, he said.
"We have no idea how many students are suspected of scalping their tickets," Flanagin said. "There are many Internet-based and other avenues available for students to try and scalp the tickets."
The penalty for ticket scalping is a fine ranging from $25 to $500 per ticket scalped, Flanagin said.
Some students are concerned about the potential fallout from this situation.
"Students shouldn't take advantage of the university's generosity" UA student Spencer Hastings said. "All I can say is that I'd be upset if I had to pay the costs for some else being greedy."
Meanwhile, other students feel that the university is taking the situation too far.
"It seems almost ridiculous to fine these students," UA student Sam Kincannon said. "There's got to be a better way to punish them."
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