Emanuel's amusement tax change could cost high rollers

High rollers willing to cough up big bucks for tickets to sporting events and hit shows like "Hamilton" could find themselves paying higher prices, thanks to a subtle change tied to Mayor Rahm Emanuel's 2017 budget.

Just when die-hard Cubs fans are turning to StubHub, VividSeats, TickPick and TicketLiquidator for tickets to the National League championship series and the World Series, Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to change the way the city's 9 percent amusement tax is applied to "ticket resales."

"As part of the 2017 budget, the city is proposing to simplify the amusement tax rate on ticket resales to a flat 3.5 percent on the full resale price, regardless of the markup. With this proposed simplification, the city anticipates a slight increase in revenue as tax remittance will be easier for ticket re-sellers," the mayor's budget overview states.

On StubHub, tickets for Game 1 of the NLCS were going for anywhere from $370 for standing room to $10,000 for dugout boxes.

A 3.5 percent tax applied to the full resale price of $10,000 would add $350 to the cost of the ticket. For the $370 standing room ticket, the new tax would be $12.95.

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