Overview
- Jury selection started Monday in Manhattan, with opening arguments Tuesday and a trial expected to run about six weeks.
- The DOJ and 39 states say the company monopolized primary ticketing and large amphitheater markets through long-term exclusivity and coercive tactics, citing control of roughly 70%–80% of major venues’ ticketing.
- In opening statements, DOJ lawyer David Dahlquist said the ticket industry is "broken," while defense counsel David Marriott told jurors the companies lack monopoly power.
- U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian earlier narrowed some claims but let core allegations proceed, denying Live Nation’s bid to pause the case after failed settlement overtures.
- Expected witnesses include CEO Michael Rapino, Kid Rock, Irving Azoff, Desiree Perez, Ben Lovett and SeatGeek’s Jack Groetzinger, as a separate FTC lawsuit over resale practices continues.