Maura Healey announces new legislation to cap concert ticket resale prices and fees in Massachusetts.
Governor Maura Healey announced a new legislative plan to make concert and sports tickets more affordable for Massachusetts residents. The proposed "Great Divide Act" aims to limit the influence of predatory secondary markets by capping resale prices at 110% of the original face value. Under this plan, a $200 ticket would be limited to a $220 resale price. The legislation also seeks to cap service fees at 10% and ban "ghost tickets," which are speculative listings where the seller does not actually possess the seat. Maura Healey noted that the current system often forces fans to pay triple the original price, making live entertainment feel like a lottery. The bill was named in honor of singer Noah Kahan, who recently headlined four consecutive sold-out shows at Fenway Park. Kahan supported the measure during a press conference, noting that artists alone cannot tackle market manipulation by billion-dollar scalping companies. The administration plans to include the act in the upcoming closeout supplemental budget to ensure fans can enjoy live experiences without excessive costs.