Anyone who hoped that Donald Trump was actually serious about taking on Ticketmaster and Live Nation was let down this month when his Department of Justice (DOJ) announced plans to settle its antitrust suit against the concert giants.
Observers, including the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) were quick to point out that a proposed $280 million to pay any settlements in the case “is the equivalent of 4 days of their 2025 revenue…”
But not every state is rolling over. Politico says more than two dozen attorneys general have refused to sign on to a DOJ settlement that critics say falls short of properly addressing concerns surrounding monopolization in the live entertainment industry.
Tom DeGeorge, owner of Crowbar in Tampa and Southeast Regional President for NIVA, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that Florida is among the states continuing the fight. CL reached out to Florida State Attorney James Uthmeier’s office for additional comment.
How the trial plays out is unknown, but what is clear is how one employee at Live Nation feels about Tampa fans.
Two exhibits in the trial include messages between employees where Ben Baker—then working in Tampa as a regional ticketing director for Live Nation—joked about exorbitant parking and other ancillary charges like VIP access and lawn chair rentals.
The exchanges from 2022 show Baker and another employee, Jeff Weinhold, talking about sales surrounding concerts at Tampa’s MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, which is operated by Live Nation. In them, the men discuss pricing for seats on a Zac Brown show, with Baker sharing a strategy for mitigating any losses. “i gouge them on ancil prices to make up for it,” he wrote.
In one exchange, Baker laughed about charging $50 for grass parking, adding “i charge $60 for closer grass” and telling Weinhold that he charges $100 for oversize parking that is still almost a mile from the venue entrance.
“robbing them blind baby,” Baker wrote in another message. “that’s how we do”
The New York Times reported that messages about a 2022 Kid Rock show at Tampa’s MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre include a “VIP Club” pricing chart, with a comment from Baker saying, “These people are so stupid.”
Baker also lamented a show cancellation from Dead & Co. because it would’ve let him jump ahead in sales ahead of co-workers at the Hollywood Bowl.
In another message, Baker joked that he didn’t know if he should “be nice” and give a refund to a mother who would no longer be able to take her teenager to see AJR play MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre back in 2022.
Weinhold replied, “los yes just give em the refund lol.”
“you’ve gone soft,” Baker replied.
Baker’s most recent title is head of ticketing for Venue Nation, a division of Live Nation Entertainment that includes its amphitheaters.
In new testimony from the trial yesterday, Baker expressed regret over his comments, but noted that he’s been promoted twice since sending the messages.
Ticketmaster and Live Nation argued that the messages should not be allowed in the trial because they discussed “non-ticket ancillary products” not part of the trial, adding that they did not learn about the exchange until the public did. In a statement to the NYT, Live Nation said the exchange was between “one junior staffer to a friend” and said it “absolutely doesn’t reflect our values or how we operate.”
A recent “State Of Live” report from NIVA said that independent venues in Florida rank in the top three across the country in multiple economic measurements related to facilitating off-site tourism, jobs supported, industry jobs, tax revenue, wages paid, and more.
Despite the impact detailed in the report, only 35% of independent stages in Florida identified themselves as profitable in 2024.
DeGeorge, who opened Crowbar in Ybor City 20 years ago, will close his venue this summer due, in part, to rising rent.
Over the weekend, he urged followers to contact Florida’s state attorney and encourage him to stay in the fight against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
“You all have been in this fight with us since the beginning, and it’s you that keeps us all going. We’re all in this together because we all love live, and we want it to be affordable for everybody, and we want fair practices where these independent venues can exist for years and years and years to come,” he added.
A listing for the property owned by Ron Rampolla seeks $27.70 per square foot-per year at the 4,115 square-foot facility (just shy of $114,000/year). The listing promises the next renter “a rare opportunity to reimagine a legendary property that has shaped the city’s nightlife and music scene for over two decades.”
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This article appears in Mar. 12 – 18, 2026.