Scalpers Target Sports Cards, Toys, and Major Event Tickets Amid Soaring Demand

As three of the world's biggest sporting events approach—the FIFA World Cup, the NBA Finals, and the NHL Stanley Cup Finals—the practice of reselling tickets and consumer goods at significantly marked-up prices has drawn widespread criticism.

Reselling of Consumer Goods

At a Walmart in central North Carolina, a group of approximately 12 to 15 men gathered before the store opened to purchase all available sports cards and Needoh cubes, a popular sensory toy. One individual reported buying all Needohs from a stock cart and reselling them online for approximately $40 each, compared to their original retail price of under $10.

These items are reportedly in scarce supply and resold online at markups of 300% to 400%.

Ticket Reselling for Sports Events

FIFA World Cup

FIFA released over 77,000 public tickets via its official website, which were purchased within a short time and then listed on reseller websites, according to Newsweek.

NBA Finals

Resellers purchased tickets over a month ago in anticipation of the New York Knicks' appearance—their first since 1999. Low-priced upper deck tickets are reportedly listed at a minimum of $7,517 each on StubHub.

NHL Stanley Cup Finals

Fans of the Carolina Hurricanes expressed frustration as verified resale tickets reportedly consumed the entire market. Nosebleed seats are selling for over $1,000 each, compared to $40–$60 during the regular season. Ticketmaster and the Hurricanes have released statements about this situation.

Statements on Ticket Reselling

Ticket platforms and teams have stated that they cannot prevent ticket reselling and price gouging.

Legal Context

The Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act of 2016 prohibits the use of software to bypass ticket purchasing controls, but does not prohibit price gouging or other reselling practices. Only 16 U.S. states have anti-scalping laws, many of which are outdated. Ticket vendors may benefit financially from multiple ticket resales due to service fees of 10% to 15% per transaction.

In March 2025, the White House pledged to better enforce the BOTS Act, but as of the present date, no further action has been reported.

Effects on Attendees

The high cost of tickets reportedly prevents many fans from attending major events. Some observers note that children may be unable to experience live events with their families unless they come from wealthy backgrounds.