Live Nation employees joked about 'gouging' concertgoers, court records show

Unsealed documents in antitrust case reveal private Slack messages about inflating parking, VIP and other fees

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:35pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Unsealed court documents in the Live Nation antitrust case show employees joking in private Slack messages about 'gouging' concertgoers with parking, VIP and other ancillary fees. The disclosures add new scrutiny to the company as California and other states continue litigating after rejecting the federal settlement.

Why it matters

The messages may confirm a familiar frustration for Bay Area concertgoers - the cost of a night out often balloons well beyond the ticket price, with parking, VIP upgrades and other fees driving up the total before the show even begins. The revelations raise questions about Live Nation's business practices and pricing strategies.

The details

In the messages, two Live Nation ticketing employees discussed ancillary fees in unusually blunt terms, with one boasting about 'robbing them blind' on parking revenue and another saying they 'gouge them on ancil prices.' The messages were between Ben Baker, head of ticketing for Venue Nation, and Jeff Weinhold, a senior ticketing director in the Washington D.C. area.

  • The messages were sent in 2022.

The players

Live Nation

A concert giant that owns Ticketmaster and operates several prominent Bay Area venues, including Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, Toyota Pavilion at Concord and the Masonic in San Francisco.

Ben Baker

Head of ticketing for Venue Nation, a Live Nation division that oversees amphitheaters.

Jeff Weinhold

A senior ticketing director for Live Nation in the Washington D.C. area.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“These people are so stupid”

— Ben Baker, Head of ticketing for Venue Nation (Slack messages)

“I have VIP parking up to $250 lol”

— Jeff Weinhold, Senior ticketing director (Slack messages)

“I almost feel bad taking advantage of them”

— Ben Baker, Head of ticketing for Venue Nation (Slack messages)

“Robbing them blind baby. That's how we do”

— Ben Baker, Head of ticketing for Venue Nation (Slack messages)

“I gouge them on ancil prices to make up for it”

— Ben Baker, Head of ticketing for Venue Nation (Slack messages)

What’s next

California is among the states that rejected the federal settlement with Live Nation and plan to continue litigating the antitrust case.

The takeaway

The unsealed court documents and private messages reveal concerning practices by Live Nation employees, raising questions about the company's pricing strategies and the overall concertgoing experience for fans. This case highlights the ongoing scrutiny of Live Nation's business practices and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the live entertainment industry.