Trump signs executive order to curb ticket scalping; what does it mean for the Tri-State?

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — President Donald Trump recently signed a new executive order aiming to end ticket price-gouging for live entertainment. But what does that mean for the Tri-State and will this executive order be effective?

The executive order aims to ensure that scalpers offering tickets at higher prices than its face value comply with all Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules. It also orders the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ensure that competition laws are property enforced.

“These BOTS are getting all good tickets for your favorite shows,” says Kid Rock, who joined President Trump in the Oval Office for the order signing. “Then they’re relisted for sometimes a 400% or 500% markup.”

Price-gouging reached new heights during Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” in 2022, where resale tickets reached prices as high as tens of thousands of dollars.

Simeon Pogue is an avid concertgoer who has seen artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Adele, Lady Gaga and Orville Peck. The former Owensboro native currently lives in San Francisco and has had vastly different experiences with ticket scalpers from the Tri-State, all the way to the Golden Gate.

“I think it is people being greedy and it’s got to ridiculous levels,” says Pogue. “I understand if something happens and you say ‘I bought this ticket and can’t go so I’ll sell’ and make a little bit of money out of it. But if it’s 15 times more than what you pay for, it’s ridiculous.”

Ford Center Executive Director Scott Schoenike says ticket scalpers are common everywhere and provides a tip for customers to avoid falling victim to the price uptick.

“When you use a third party website, you have to be careful. It does not mean it’s going to be the cheapest price out there,” says Schoenike. “Start at Ticketmaster. That’s going to be your base fee. Where as the other websites can charge what ever they want as long as the customer will be willing to pay for it.”

Although the newly signed executive order calls for change in the live entertainment industry, Pogue is not hopeful this will fully rid ticket-selling websites from scalpers.

“Realistically I don’t see it changing much,” says Pogue. “It’s not going to prevent them to do it. It just creates a barrier for them to do what they’re going to do anyway.”

The executive order, signed by President Trump, can be found here.