Chicago arts venues are speaking out against a harmful practice that affects both audiences and the venues themselves. This practice, known as speculative ticketing, involves selling tickets that have not yet been made available. Lawmakers are now working to ban this practice.
Senator Steve Stadelman of Illinois highlighted the issue, describing how audiences often face disappointment upon realizing that their tickets are not valid upon arrival at the performance. This is the result of speculative ticketing, where sellers promise to deliver tickets before the event, even if they do not have the tickets in hand.
John Mangum, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, emphasized the impact of speculative ticketing on patrons, noting that they are often misled into purchasing tickets that may not be valid. This deceptive practice has united Chicago arts venues in their opposition, with leaders like Sharie Massey of the Joffrey Ballet and Lori Dimun of Harris Theater for Music and Dance condemning it for creating confusion and damaging relationships with audiences.
Recent revelations at Ravinia, where concerts were being sold before they were even announced with inaccurate seat maps, shocked CEO Jeffrey Haydon. Leading arts organizations like the Lyric Opera, Auditorium Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, and Harris Theater are hoping for a new bill to ban speculative ticketing, requiring sellers to have tickets in hand before selling them.
The bill has already passed through the Illinois House and is now under review by the Senate. It aims to establish a complaint system for customers and deter potential scammers. Venues are optimistic that this legislation could put an end to the heartbreak experienced by patrons and ensure that they receive what they paid for.
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