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'Satisfaction' is yours for $5,400 a ticket 
 By PATRICIA O'HAIRE
DAILY NEWS FEATURE WRITER

Tickets for The Rolling Stones' three September
concerts in the New York City area sold out at the box
office long ago. But you can still get into the shows
if you're willing to get scalped - over the Internet -
for prices that reach as high as $5,400 per ticket.
A Woodstock, Ill., Web site called Ticketsnow.com is
offering tickets to the local Stones dates: Madison
Square Garden on Sept. 26, Giants Stadium on Sept. 28
and Roseland Ballroom on Sept. 30.

Ticketsnow.com lists four seats in Row D on the Garden
floor at $5,400 apiece. Originally, they went for
$354.50.

For Roseland, the price is $4,050, compared with a
face value of $50.

At Giants Stadium, tickets that were $52 to $92 are
now $170 to $2,700 - which almost seems like a
bargain.

"This is totally outrageous, says Bob Grossweiner, a
concert music insider. 

How did Ticketsnow.com, which says it's affiliated
with other brokers, get all these seats?
Ticketsnow.com did not return calls asking for
comment, but Grossweiner says, "Sometimes people in
the music industry, sponsors or even the artists
themselves, give their tickets to scalpers or brokers
to sell for whatever they can.

"Some brokers have people stand in line at venues to
buy as many tickets as they're allowed. And everyone
involved with a show can have 'holds,' that is,
keeping tickets back from the box office for their own
use."

It is against the law in New York State to resell
tickets for more than 20% over their face value; there
are no legal limits in New Jersey.

But the use of the Internet has created enforcement
headaches, says Pauline Toole, an assistant
commissioner of consumer affairs for the city.

"It's not clear if the law pertains to Internet
sales," she says. "We do feel, however, that it will
be tested in court." 
 
-- 
-Brian in Atlanta
The Who This Month!
http://www.thewhothismonth.com
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