The New England Patriots and online scalping service StubHub have settled a lawsuit that was launched way back in November 2006.
"The settlement does not change in any way the Patriots' policies
prohibiting the resale of tickets to Patriots home games, or the
Patriots' ability to enforce those policies," Patriots spokesman Stacey James said.
The Patriots originally alleged that StubHub was
encouraging customers to resell (i.e., scalp) their tickets in violation of
the team's policy prohibiting such transactions, and in violation of Massachusetts' anti-scalping law.
StubHub filed a counterclaim, alleging that the Patriots were attempting to monopolize the "resale" (i.e., scalping) of tickets to the team's games.
The fact that the Pats have retained the ability to revoke the ticket rights of fans who resell their tickets on StubHub means that StubHub hasn't abandoned its ability to broker the purchases -- and that the Patriots haven't abandoned their position that they have the right to scalp fans who are scalping tickets in violation of the terms of the purchase agreement.
At some point, a season-ticket holder who loses his or her seats by scalping tickets on StubHub might file a separate legal challenge to the team's efforts to prevent people from selling the tickets like any other commodity that can be purchased and then resold. Until then, it's buyer beware, when it comes to reselling.
Pats, StubHub settle lawsuit
Posted by Mike Florio on July 15, 2009 4:27 PM ET
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13 Comments 
Latest stories in: Latest News and Rumors, Legal, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Legal, New England Patriots, Top Stories
Latest stories in: Latest News and Rumors, Legal, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Legal, New England Patriots, Top Stories
How long until the NFL follows MLB's lead and officially partners with StubHub for ticket resale?
Yeah, it's nuts. I usually just use the teams ticket exchange if I can't go to a game but I've sold them through brokers on occassion too and have not had my season tix revoked. If they wanted to do that I'd just watch at home rather than spending my hard earned $'s with them. No biggie. Time to get over yourselves Pats (pats fan here too).
The real issue to me is the pre-season games. Besides the fact that you have to buy them and at full price, you can not even sell them through the teams own ticket exchange. Whats the deal with that? Instead I have to give them away. Pisses me off every year.
StubHub should just destroy the evidence it worked for the patriots*
Mass. General Laws: Chapter 140: Section 185D. Resale price Section 185D. "No licensee under section one hundred and eighty-five A shall resell any ticket or other evidence of right of entry to any theatrical exhibition, public show or public amusement or exhibition of any description at a price in excess of two dollars in advance of the price printed on the face of such ticket"
StubHub was in the wrong and they settled.
They're probably not even licensed.
Why are the Pat's always suing season tix holders??
You can legally sell your tix already thru the Miami Dolphins. The team last year started an exchange/resale program for tickets thru ticketmaster. So whats the big deal Pats?
https://teamexchange.ticketmaster.com/html/eventlist.htmI?l=EN&team=dolphins
The Patriots tickets policies are an outrage and an affront to season ticket holders as well as fans of the team who only want to see a few games a year.
Its beyond me why anyone would want to buy season tickets, battle through gridlock to get to Foxboro 8 times a year, pay astronomical parking fees, walk a mile to the stadium and deal witha gestapo-like security force. God forbid you can't make a game and you try to unload tickets, only have your long standing season tickets revoked for selling them on Stubhub for market value.
I would rather deal with getting urinated on at Foxboro Stadium than the sterile, "family friendly" police state that is Gillette Stadium.
Love the team, but you won't see me at Gillette more than once or twice a year, using my scalped tickets purchased on Stubhub.
So those tickets I just bought on stubhub for the Buf @ NE game in week one may not get me in? What a bunch of bologna!
I'm sick of all of these season ticket holders that haven't been to a game in years. They just hold onto their seats and sell them for astronomical prices and make it hard for the people who really want to go and aren't millionaires to get seats.
StuubHub!
There are two sides to every argument:
I too am sick of people who just do it to make money and never attend a game. They hold onto the tix for 50 years and meanwhile people like me are waiting 50 years to actually be able to attend the games.
However, with the ridiculous PSL's and crazy ticket prices I understand it can be hard to afford every ticket every season. So you should be able to sell a few tickets if you want in order to be able to afford 'em.
The third view of course is that by kicking more people off the list, you can generate more money by selling new PSL's.
So to summarize: Go to a game or two a year and watch the rest on a 50 inch HD Plasma TV in the comfortable confines of your own home. Leave the bickering to the people who are looking for an argument.
"I would rather deal with getting urinated on at Foxboro Stadium than the sterile, "family friendly" police state that is Gillette Stadium."
Sorry 'bout that.
Hey Greggo1545: the Pats do not have PSL's. Just regular season tix (and club seats) so there goes that arguement!
But ACE Tickets is still able to do this...because they are in the pockets of the pols here in MA.
I will never buy tix from any of these agencies as if I can't get them for face value, well thank God the NFL is a great TV sport. No biggie...
I feel for the season ticket holders though being held hostage for those pre season tix...the only thing you can do is try to ignore you're paying x amount for 2 of those and 8 home games and just think of x being the cost of those 8...
It sucks but other than not paying for the season package what can you do? I will never pay full ticket prices to go see future practice squad and grocery workers play...