Jack Groetzinger on tying arrangements

About Jack Groetzinger

Jack Groetzinger, co-founder and CEO of SeatGeek, has been a vocal critic of Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation, arguing that the company maintains a monopoly in the live event ticketing industry. In a December 2024 appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box," Groetzinger said that the Department of Justice's lawsuit against Live Nation was warranted, stating that SeatGeek has had "a front row seat to the illegal behavior." He claimed that Ticketmaster controls roughly 80% of the market and that Live Nation uses its control over concert promotion to pressure venues into using Ticketmaster, saying "venues fear losing Live Nation concerts if they don't use Ticketmaster." Groetzinger has called for structural remedies, specifically the dissolution of the common ownership of Ticketmaster and Live Nation, arguing that "behavioral remedies cannot solve the problems inherent in an anti-competitive merger." Groetzinger has also advocated for greater price transparency in the ticketing industry. In December 2023, he participated in a White House announcement where ticketing companies committed to showing all-in pricing upfront, saying "we are major believers in transparency and knowing what you will pay." He has described SeatGeek as a technology company focused on improving the fan experience, noting that the company has signed dozens of major venues as clients by building better technology. Regarding ticket prices, Groetzinger has said that high prices are driven by supply and demand, noting that for events like Taylor Swift concerts, "there's probably 10x or 20x more people who would want to see her perform live versus can actually go." He has also expressed skepticism about using blockchain for ticketing, arguing that live events are inherently centralized because venues ultimately control access.

Profile compiled from Jack Groetzinger's verified public interviews and appearances. See all quotes & transcripts →