Monday, April 15, 2013

Yankees banish StubHub and let ticket scalpers run free: Report

In its bid to keep StubHub from helping drive down ticket prices, the New York Yankees are reportedly using a state anti-scalping law to keep the legal ticket reseller about a dozen city blocks from Yankee Stadium. But when it comes to traditional illegal scalpers, the team is letting them run free outside the House That Jeter Built.

Yankee security was practically giving scalper referrals to fans before Sunday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles, according to a report in The New York Post.


“Where do all the scalpers hang out?” a Post reporter asked a group of security guards outside Gate 8.


Almost in unison, the guards replied, “Gate 2.”


One said, “Just flash a little money, and they’ll come running to you.”



In other words, outside Yankee Stadium, price-gouging scalpers are getting high fives from security while free market Ticket Oak would probably be whittled down to Robinson Cano's new bat. The Biogenesis guy would get a better reception than T.O. on 161st Street.



On Friday, a different Post reporter witnessed a rash of scalper sales outside Gate 2 — several near police officers.

When the reporter was charged twice the face value of a $20 ticket, she complained to a cop, who was not sympathetic.

"That’s how they make their money," the cop said. "Next time . . . look at the ticket before you buy it."

Meanwhile, the team has gotten an injunction banishing StubHub to at least 1,500 feet from the stadium.

The Yankees — who are attempting to lower their payroll under the luxury tax threshold  — announced in December that they were severing ties with StubHub this year because the broker sells tickets with no guaranteed floor price, which the team says makes them too cheap.

The move discourages fans, who buy their tickets online and want to pick them up at a StubHub office, because they will have to travel an extra 12 blocks (nearly 1-1/4 miles roundtrip) to pick them up.

Yankee President Randy Levine said that there should be no double standard and that the state’s anti-scalping law will be universally enforced.

"Whoever it is, the law should be enforced," Levine said. "Starting tonight, we will make sure we do a better job enforcing that policy."

A spokesman for StubHub did not return calls to the Post for comment.

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