Contact: Sunny Mindel/Matthew Higgins 212-788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jules Polonetsky today announced the seizure of 42 tickets to Mets playoff games from an illegal ticket broker. All Events, located at 79-11 Metropolitan Avenue in Queens, was operating as a ticket broker without a license and was selling playoff tickets for hundreds of dollars above the face value in violation of state law. The seized tickets for tonight and tomorrow's games at Shea Stadium were immediately donated to children in foster care through the City's Administration for Children's Services. All Events faces up to $40,000 in fines.
"Scalpers artificially inflate the cost of tickets to events, making it harder for law abiding fans to attend, particularly young people," the Mayor said. "It is fitting that these tickets, which were being sold for hundreds of dollars more than the legal markup, will now go to children in foster care who would have otherwise been unable to attend the playoff games. Today's enforcement action sends a clear message to other scalpers that the Police Department and Consumer Affairs inspectors will be out in full force throughout the playoffs, seizing tickets, issuing fines and making arrests."
Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jules Polonetsky said, "Unlicensed ticket brokers and scalpers illegally profit at the expense of fans and prevent other people from having a fair shot at obtaining tickets. They should consider themselves on notice this playoff season that they run the risk of not only losing their tickets, but being arrested and paying tens of thousands of dollars in fines. I am pleased that instead of lining the pockets of an illegal scalper, these Mets playoff tickets will make it possible for over 40 foster children to see a playoff game, many for the first time in their lives."
Administration for Children's Services Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said, "We are delighted that the City has donated these tickets to children in foster care. Today, an illegal activity has not only been thwarted; it has been turned around to good use. We know that the children will have a ball at the game."
The Administration for Children's Services distributed 30 tickets to children in foster care for tonight's Mets playoff game against the Arizona Diamondbacks and 12 tickets to children in foster care for tomorrow's Mets playoff game.
New York State law limits markups on the face value of any ticket to a maximum of $5 or 10 percent, whichever is greater. In addition, ticket brokers are required to have a New York City Department of Consumer Affairs issued license. Consumer Affairs inspectors will continue conducting enforcement sweeps of ticket brokers throughout the playoff season.
Consumers who feel a ticket broker has ripped them off or who know of an unlicensed broker can contact the Department of Consumer Affairs by calling the complaint hotline at 212-487-4444 or 718-296-2994. Consumers can also file a complaint online by visiting DCA's website at www.ci.nyc.ny.us/consumers.