A reader questioned the announcement yesterday that the University of Arkansas was getting into the secondary football ticket market. It will buy tickets to football games that fans don’t plan to use and resell them at prices the market will bear. This, in a perfect world, means reselling them above face value, though UA said it expected to offer prices lower than private ticket resellers such as Stub Hub.

Is it legal to sell a ticket to a sporting event in Arkansas for more than face value?

Answer: Generally, no.

But the relevant question is whether it is legal for the University of Arkansas to sell a ticket to a sporting event for more than face value.

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The answer is yes, according to the ticket scalping statute. It includes this exception:

(2) This subsection does not apply to an institution of higher education that receives funds per ticket above the face value of the ticket.

Many, if not most, tickets to Razorback games in Fayetteville cost more than face value. They require an additional contribution to the Razorback Foundation, the amount rising with the desirability of the seat.

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