Florida Joins Federal, Multistate Efforts to Protect Consumers in Merger of Ticket Conglomerates

From Attorney General’s Office:

Attorney General Bill McCollum announced Monday that  Florida and 16 other attorneys general have joined the U.S. Department of  Justice in an effort to protect consumers regarding the pending merger of  Ticketmaster and Live Nation. As a result of the states’ and federal  government’s efforts, the newly combined company is required to make  significant changes to the merger agreement, including undertaking  measures ensuring competition is preserved in primary ticketing services  for events in the United States. Primary ticketing services include the  maintenance of websites and call centers where tickets can be purchased  initially for a venue event.

In 2008, Ticketmaster had 80 percent of the primary ticketing services  market. Ticketmaster and Live Nation – Ticketmaster’s primary source of  competition – announced plans to merge in February 2009. The merger was  poised to eliminate Ticketmaster’s largest competitor in the primary  ticketing service market, and as originally proposed, threatened to lessen  competition in that market, resulting in higher prices and less innovation  for consumers.

After reviewing the proposed merger, the Department of Justice and 17  state Attorneys General decided that divestitures and anti-retaliation  provisions were necessary to protect competition. Ticketmaster must  provide access to one of its major technology platforms and sell Paciolan,  a Delaware corporation that provides ticketing services throughout the  United States and is owned by Ticketmaster.

Ticketmaster has agreed to provide its technology platform to AEG  Worldwide, the second largest concert promoter in the United States. By  acquiring Ticketmaster’s technology platform, AEG would be able to provide  both primary ticketing and concert promotion services to venues.

Additionally, Comcast, as the likely buyer of Paciolan, is expected to  become a stronger competitor for primary ticketing services. As a result  of their acquiring the divested assets, these companies will have the  tools needed to become more effective competitors in primary ticket  servicers.

In addition to divesting assets, the merged entity has agreed that it will  not retaliate against a venue that is contracting or is contemplating  contracting with another company for ticketing services. Additionally, the  merged firm cannot require venues to use the firm’s concert promotion  services or artists as a condition for using the firm’s primary ticketing  services. The merged firm may not use concert ticketing data it have  collected for the benefit of its non-ticketing businesses or share that  data with others.

The settlement, if approved by the court, resolves the competitive  concerns of the U.S. Department of Justice, Florida and the other 16  states as set forth in a complaint filed simultaneously with the proposed  settlement today in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia.

The following Florida venues are among the top 500 Ticketmasters venues in  the country:

Carol Morsani Hall – Tampa

Bank Atlantic Center – Sunrise

St. Pete Times Forum – St. Pete

American Airlines Arena – Miami

Amway Arena – Orlando

Broward Center Au Rene Theater – Ft. Lauderdale  Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater  Cruzan Amphitheatre – West Palm Beach  Ford Amphitheatre – Tampa  Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena – Jacksonville  Bob Carr Performing Arts Center – Orlando  Dreyfoos Hall – West Palm Beach  Land Shark Stadium – Miami  Citrus Bowl – Orlando  Bicentennial Park – Miami  Big Cypress Seminole Reservation – Big Cypress  Seminole Hard Rock Live – Hollywood  House of Blues – Lake Buena Vista  UCF Arena – Orlando  Pensacola Civic Center – Pensacola  Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater – Miami  Hard Rock Live – Orlando  St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine  King Center for Performing Arts – Melbourne  Florida Theater – Jacksonville

The following venues in Florida are owned or controlled by Live Nation:

Cruzan Amphitheatre – West Palm Beach The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason – Miami  Ford Amphitheatre – Tampa  Florida Theatre – Jacksonville  Pompano Beach Amphitheater – Pompano Beach  Big Cypress Indian Reservation – Big Cypress  Seminole Hard Rock Live – Hollywood  Bayfront Park Amphitheater – Miami  House of Blues – Orlando  Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park Amphitheater – Boca Raton  City Limits – Delray  BankAtlantic Center Sinatra Theater Tickets – Sunrise  St. Lucie County Fairgrounds and Equestrian Center – St. Lucie  Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall – Sarasota  The Ritz Ybor – Tampa  The Club at Firestone – Orlando  Cameo – Miami

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3. Florida Gov. Scott, 32 other Governors Speak out on Federal Healthcare Mandates
4. Click It or Ticket Florida in full force
5. Klein proposes amendment to federal America Competes Act

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