Was it an intimidation or a practical assessment? This remains a pivotal inquiry in the government’s antitrust litigation against Live Nation, a case currently in an uncertain state after the Justice Department brokered a settlement with the firm, even as numerous jurisdictions push ahead. Related: No Big Dance, No Job: Aut…
The Verge acquired the audio from a 2021 telephone conversation, which is central to the legal action. This recording, presented as a public exhibit to jurors during the initial week of proceedings, captures a disagreement between John Abbamondi, then-CEO of Barclays Center, and Michael Rapino, Live Nation’s CEO, regarding an admissions agreement for Brooklyn’s Barclays Center arena. While a written record of the discussion was previously uploaded to the case file, the auditory version conveys a superior understanding of the genuine strain involved. Related: The Maxx Crosby Twist: Ho…
The audio commences midway into the discussion, when Abbamondi divulged Barclays’ intention to transition from Ticketmaster to SeatGeek for its ticketing services. (To aid in voice identification, Abbamondi stated under oath, “I was the anxious individual, and Michael was the irate one.”) Barclays and Live Nation were at odds regarding the conclusion date of their ongoing agreement. Nearing the close of their exchange, Rapino made reference to “a fresh facility nearby,” which Abbamondi believed alluded to the UBS Arena situated close to Queens. Rapino remarked, “My consistent message from the outset was that it would be an arduous task to secure admissions or musical performances with a new competitor in the vicinity, irrespective of the ticketing system.” Abbamondi testified that he construed this statement as a “potentially overt warning that it would prove challenging for them to host musical events at Barclays Center” should they discontinue their collaboration with Ticketmaster.
Access the recording and formulate your own judgment — Rapino’s observations regarding a fresh contender commence around 4:14.
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