SCALPING SCALPERS: SHOW ME CENTER DIRECTOR SEEKS ORDINANCE

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- If Show Me Center Director David Ross has his way, ticket scalping would be illegal here.

Ross said there currently is no city ordinance on the books banning such activity. But Ross hopes to change that.

Ross is currently in the process of drafting an anti-scalping measure, which will be submitted to the city staff and City Council.

He said he plans to send out a letter to those in the arena management industry in an effort to solicit samples of anti-scalping ordinances.

Ross said he would use those ordinances as a basis for developing a proposed measure for consideration by the Cape City Council. "I'll submit something and then they can have the attorneys put it in (writing)."

While there is no such ordinance on the books here, anti-scalping laws are on the books in many places. In Illinois, a person can be fined $500 if caught scalping tickets, noted Ross.

Scalping has not been a major problem at Show Me Center events, said Ross.

But, he added, that scalping of tickets did occur at the Poison concert Oct. 3.

Three persons were observed scalping Poison tickets in front of the Show Me Center. "These guys were from Texas and they were just king of following the band across the country," said Ross.

"They were selling tickets for $30, double the face value."

Added Ross, "It's a hustle, that's all there is to it."

The Show Me Center director said he doesn't have a problem with someone selling an unused ticket to a neighbor. "My problem is with people who are selling it on the (Show Me Center) property and selling tickets at the back of the line."

Said Ross, "If somebody is short-circuiting the system, then I get a little bit upset with that."

He said that at some concerts in other cities, scalpers sell $20 tickets for $200 to $300.

While it has not been a major problem here, Ross said ticket scalping could occur again at future rock concerts at the Show Me Center.

Ross said he has discussed the issue with two Cape Girardeau councilmen.

One of the councilmen, Al Spradling III, said the issue has not been addressed by the City Council as a whole, nor has it been addressed in any detail.

"We talked in generalities only as a result of what arose out of that particular (Poison) concert.

"So far," he added, "we haven't really gotten into any particulars or looked into any ordinance yet."

Said Spradling, "We discussed the possible need for it. I didn't specifically ask him to draft one."

The issue was raised by Ross, said Spradling, noting that it's natural for the Show Me Center director to be concerned about ticket scalping.

"It directly impacts his operation," said Spradling.

"You hate to have a situation arise and not be able to have something to take care of it with," the councilman said.