No Section

Who are the scalpers?

The primary players in the scalping game come from inside and outside.

July 1, 2016 at 5:58PM

Cece Robledo and Alexis Perez, right, bought a pair of tickets to see Justin Bieber from a ticket broker, who declined to be identified, across the street from Target Center about an hour before the show was scheduled to start. The girls were celebrating their birthdays by splurging on the tickets. (STAR TRIBUNE/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Who are the scalpers?

High-tech brokers: Users of "bot" ticket-buying software and other computer gadgetry to circumvent ticketers' security systems to buy bundles of the best seats.

Low-tech brokers: Guys selling on the corner and local companies such as Ticket King, who pay people to stand in line or go online, or have inside contacts.

Concert promoters and venues: Companies such as Live Nation and AEG Live often hold onto 10 to 30 percent of the best tickets, offering high-priced "platinum" seats — and sometimes selling tickets to brokers, according to a former StubHub exec.

Insiders and VIPs: If Mike Tice infamously scalped Super Bowl tickets in 2005 as a well-paid Vikings coach, you can imagine how often it happens with lower-profile employees involved in concerts and sports events.

Pre-sale buyers: Offers through American Express and artists' fan clubs can claim 15 to 40 percent of the good seats.

Average-Joe fans: Someone buying two tickets to Adele or Metallica figures he might as well buy four knowing the extras can be sold at a profit on StubHub.

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER