Federal antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, Ticketmaster could have Las Vegas impact

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday filed an antitrust lawsuit against entertainment giant Live Nation Entertainment Inc. and its Ticketmaster sales affiliate, seeking to break up the company it alleges is operating as a monopoly.

The lawsuit, joined by Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford and 29 other state attorneys general and the District of Columbia, could have wide-ranging ramifications for the live entertainment business in Las Vegas.

Live Nation operates the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay and Brooklyn Bowl at the Linq, but has affiliations with dozens of Southern Nevada venues, ranging from performance arenas to swimming pools that host concerts and dayclubs.