A pair of fans in New York sued Major League Baseball, Commissioner Rob Manfred and all 30 teams, asking for their money back for tickets and certification of collective action status.
The lawsuit was filed Monday in United States District Court in Los Angeles by Matthew Ajzenman, who said he purchased a partial season plan for more than 20 games from the Mets; and Susan Terry-Bazer, who said she bought six tickets for a May 9 game at Yankee Stadium against Boston.
Ajzenman said his Mets program cost $1,730, and last year he paid the team the first payment of about $317. Terry-Bazer said that he paid Ticketmaster $926 and planned to take his grandson to the Red Sox vs. Yankees game.
Ticketmaster, Stubhub, Live Nation, and last minute transactions are among those charged. The title on the cover included Tampa Bay Devil Rays Ltd. – “Diablo” was removed from the team’s nickname after the 2007 season.
“The defendants continue to withhold huge profits from tickets sold for the 2020 MLB season at the expense of fans’ financial hardships,” the lawsuit says.
The fans called for “full restitution, a tally of all MLB tickets sold for the 2020 season (including season tickets, individual game purchases, and public seating licenses), a declaratory judgment that the defendants’ conduct for continue to sell tickets for the regular MLB season 2020 violates California law, as well as the refund of proceeds from tickets sold during the 2020 MLB season. “
They allege violations of the California Consumer Legal Resources Act and the Unfair Competition and Civil Conspiracy Act.
Inauguration day, March 26, was delayed until at least mid-May, after a national emergency was declared due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
MLB said it is awaiting government and medical direction, and does not know when the season can begin. The league and the players’ union have discussed the possibility of playing in neutral venues or empty stadiums, but no decisions have been made.
