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Dozens of ticket brokers are here and many are doing business right in the heart of downtown Salt Lake. News Specialist John Daley reports.
Almost overnight a big ticket scalping zone has materialized. And city officials say many folks are doing it illegally.
At 200 South Main, it's like a ticket re-selling bazaar. Dozens of ticket brokers travel around the country and around the globe re-selling tickets at high-profile sports events and concerts.
The scalpers began arriving Friday, many with signs reading: "I need tickets."
But the city has set up a ticket exchange inside the building on that corner, where people can buy or sell legally.
Outside, it's illegal without a business license from the city.
The director of Olympic planning says the city plans to crack down on those selling tickets outside without a license.
"We're going to do our best to really get people informed about what they can do legally," said John Sittner, director of Olympic planning. "And if they are going to conduct business illegally we're going to crack down on that immediately."
But, Sittner says, it is not illegal to sell a small number of tickets if it is NOT a business.
However, we talked with an ordinary Salt Lake man who got a citation and a heavy fine for trying to sell four tickets Friday.
He wonders why the city busted him, while others who are clearly selling dozens and dozens of tickets have not been cited.
"I can't say whether it's fair or not," said Jason Adams. "I just don't think that it's right. I'm not merchadising, it's not my business. I wasn't conducting a business per se."
The city is offering this advice: "Do not sell tickets without a license" and "Do not buy tickets from people without a license."
