Pocket Aces: Red Sox Deal With Ace Ticket Missing License

Ace Ticket Missing License When Making Deal With Red Sox

Ace Ticket was missing a "license to resell tickets in Massachusetts" when the offline ticket reseller last week signed a one-year deal with the Red Sox, according to Jenn Abelson of the BOSTON GLOBE. Department of Public Safety Deputy General Counsel Todd Grossman "confirmed that Ace's licenses had expired" but said that new ones Thursday were issued for the company's various locations across the state. Ace Ticket Founder Jim Holzman said he believes there is a "misunderstanding of paperwork" in the case. Under Massachusetts state law, the penalty for operating without a current license is a fine up to $500 for the first offense, but after the third offense, "unlicensed ticket resellers may face additional fines and imprisonment for up to one year." Red Sox officials said that the team "will not make money off the resale of tickets, but it will take in funds" through the sponsorship that will put Ace's name on Fenway Park's right-field fence billboard and on a sign on the main scoreboard during three innings of each game. Massachusetts' antiscalping law "limits resale ticket prices to $2 above face value, plus some business and service charges" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/14).