The state Senate has approved legislation that would make it easier to crack down on what the Milwaukee Brewers call aggressive ticket scalpers.
The Brewers-backed bill would allow municipalities to allow the creation of re-sale zones for those seeking to re-sell tickets for events. The Senate approved it 27-3 after Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, questioned whether it was really needed.
Grothman complained the bill would allow the police to give a $10 ticket to anyone who ends up with an extra ticket for a Brewers game and seeks to sell it on the way into the game.
He also questioned the Brewers’ motives, noting the team plays in a multi-million dollar stadium financed with taxpayer dollars and the more tickets sold outside the stadium means fewer tickets sold by the team at the box office.
"I have never been harassed or felt offended by people either trying to sell me tickets … or people asking me if I have extra tickets," Grothman said.
But Sen. Jim Sullivan, D-Wauwatosa, countered the legislation wasn’t targeting the fan trying to sell an extra ticket, but the over-aggressive scalpers who pull people out of ticket lines or jump on tour buses trying to hawk their tickets. He compared it to "aggressive panhandling."
– WisPolitics.com
