A few decades ago, I visited Fred Rosen, then the chief of Ticketmaster and–as now–an unrepentant advocate of market or “dynamic” pricing for commercial events. Here in this brief LA Times interview he reappears, defending the steep charge for seats to witness the 2028 Olympics–very much a commercial enterprise. The point he makes also applies to the current controversy over fees associated with the World Cup staging, soon to be held in New Jersey and elsewhere. If the aim of the “gouging” is to recoup or avoid the costs imposed on local citizens to host such spectacles, then by all means hit the fanatical followers up for a few thousand. Millions of others will be able to view most of the action on free or streaming video. Back to Rosen–I always thought that he was a business genius, in an entertainment industry that is full of phony sentiment. –May 1, 2026
https://link.latimes.com/view/65329feb25b3640666b01d18r2pt2.2j14/da996d0c
Tim W. Ferguson 