The Boss rocked the X hours after state's 'Springsteen Law' was signed

Star Tribune

Last update: May 12, 2009 - 8:23 PM

Talk about perfect timing. A few hours before Bruce Springsteen took the stage in St. Paul on Monday, the Bruce Springsteen bill became law.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the bill, which prohibits online ticket sellers from pushing buyers to resale sites that offer tickets far above face value.

The bill was nicknamed for the Boss because Springsteen went ballistic last winter when tickets for his current tour went on sale. On the first day of sales, Ticketmaster redirected buyers to its secondary sale site, TicketsNow.

Springsteen denounced the practice as a bait-and-switch tactic.

Ticketmaster quickly backpedaled, issuing an online apology.

That didn't stop officials in several states and in Congress from jumping on the controversy. Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, took the lead in the Legislature.

The bill signed by Pawlenty requires companies that initially sell tickets to make those tickets available to the public in the fashion called for by the performer or the venue -- before sending buyers to "resale sites for sale at inflated prices."

The law covers concerts, sporting events and theater performances. It takes effect Aug. 1.

BOB VON STERNBERG

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