Particle.news
Download on the App Store

D.C. Council Weighs Ticket Resale Cap as Venue Workers Push to Unionize

More than 70 witnesses described consumer harm from bots, speculative listings, steep markups.

Overview

  • The Council’s Public Works and Operations Committee held a hearing on the Resale Amendment Act, which seeks to cap ticket resales at 10% above face value.
  • The proposal would ban speculative listings, require registration for anyone selling more than 50 tickets a year, and impose a $10,000 bond on high-volume sellers.
  • Locally owned venues and artists voiced support, with IMP reporting 61,000 tickets resold at double face value or higher this year across its D.C. clubs.
  • Ticket Policy Forum, StubHub, and SeatGeek argued caps could drive buyers to unregulated spaces and limit consumer choice, warning of unintended consequences.
  • Separately, workers at IMP-operated venues delivered more than 300 petitions seeking a fair union process over pay, scheduling, and safety, and no vote timeline has been announced for the bill.