California lawmakers have been under the spotlight for accepting gifts from various interest groups while taking legislative actions against monopolistic practices in the ticketing industry.
Politico reported that during legislative attempts to regulate Ticketmaster and the broader ticketing market, 66 California state politicians collectively accepted over $30,000 in event tickets as gifts.
The issues began surfacing publicly in late 2022 following Ticketmaster's problematic handling of sales for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, which prompted immediate legislative scrutiny. This scrutiny aimed to reduce the market dominance of companies like Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation.
Among the recipients were Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, both of whom played significant roles in the crafting and amending of pivotal legislation. Despite their regulatory efforts, both lawmakers accepted tickets to high-profile events from groups potentially impacted by the new regulations. In April 2023, Wicks introduced legislation to eliminate exclusive contracts in the industry but later accepted amendments that moderated the bill’s original intent.
These amendments, heavily influenced by Bauer-Kahan’s committee, diluted the bill extensively, leading to the withdrawal of support from its original proponents. This included significant input from major companies like the San Francisco 49ers and Disney, which were also reported to have offered tickets to various lawmakers.
Daniel Schnur, a political analyst, elucidated the influence of such gifts, explaining the progression from a simple conversation to a meaningful relationship facilitated by gifting high-value tickets.
Daniel Schnur stated:
If I send money to a legislator’s campaign account, I get a thank you note. If I attend a reception, I get a handshake. If I take them out to lunch or dinner, I get a conversation. But if I get them tickets for a concert or a basketball game, I now have a friend who takes my phone calls.
In response to critiques, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan emphasized the broader aims of their legislative pursuits, citing a commitment to consumer protection across all market levels. "The committee will do our best to protect consumers and ensure that we are focusing on all aspects of the market that cause pain points: from the primary market to the brokers that are gouging consumers, to the secondary market that enables that process,” she stated.
The 49ers organization also commented on the matter, asserting the compliance of their invites with existing guidelines and emphasizing their intent to showcase their Santa Clara stadium as part of community engagement.
Amid the free tickets and amendments, lawmakers like Democratic Assemblymember Laura Friedman identified substantial economic benefits related to event hosting, such as job creation for local constituents. “This opening meant hundreds of jobs for my constituents. I was happy to join Universal and my constituents in celebrating this major win for our local economy,” remarked Friedman.
The executive director of California Assembly Policy and Advocacy (CAPA), Sabrina Demayo Lockhart, reiterated the organization’s commitment to transparency and accountability in disclosing gifts, aligning with legal requirements. CAPA’s position underscores the legality and commonality of such gift practices in California's political landscape.
Buffy Wicks, for her part, emphasized her commitment to consumer rights despite opposition from influential sports teams, portraying the legislative efforts as a tough stance against monopolistic practices. "Standing with our nation’s fiercest consumer groups and taking on a monopoly like Ticketmaster/LiveNation — despite the opposition of many of the sports teams — was something I was proud to do,” she explained.
The narrative surrounding the California legislators accepting free event tickets weaves together the complexities of influence, ethics, and the challenges in regulating major market forces in the ticketing industry. While the legal framework permits such forms of lobbying, the intertwining of gift-giving and legislative actions invites scrutiny and demands careful consideration of the ethical dimensions in legislative processes.
