Live Nation Accused of Concert Industry Dominance Through Strategic Partnerships and Threats

SeatGeek’s close deal with the Dallas Cowboys to take over first-party sales was on the verge of success when a single sticking point threatened to derail it. The team was hesitant to drop SeatGeek’s rival, Ticketmaster, due to concerns that Live Nation, its parent company, could pull concerts from the stadium in an effort to maintain control over revenue streams. According to SeatGeek CEO Jack Groetzinger, this is how the negotiations played out: a seat at the table with the Cowboys was within reach when the “concert issue” became a point of contention. It seemed that Live Nation would not relinquish its grip on the concert industry anytime soon. In an effort to mitigate potential risks, SeatGeek struck a deal with the Dallas Cowboys in 2018, solidifying a primary ticketing partnership and securing its place within the team’s stadium ecosystem.