Today, the antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation-Ticketmaster kicks off with opening arguments in federal court in the Southern District of New York. The suit, led by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and a bipartisan coalition of 40 state attorneys general, seeks to unwind the 2009 merger of the two companies, which the government entities claim has led to monopoly abuses. Brian Berry, executive director of The Ticket Policy Forum, which represents America’s leading secondary ticketing marketplaces released the following statement ahead of opening statements:
“The break up Ticketmaster monopoly trial represents the most important effort in decades to restore competition in the live event ticketing marketplace. While Live Nation has undoubtedly left no stone unturned in its efforts to avoid this day from coming, finally fans and every player in the industry from artist to venue to competing ticket seller can take relief now that this day is finally here. Let the trial begin. A wrong can finally be right when a jury delivers a verdict ending this marriage of two market-abusing companies that should never have been allowed in the first place.”
