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Fans crowd PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel to watch rock band Phish perform in 2011.

(Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger)

TRENTON — Were you among the hundreds of thousands of concertgoers who bought tickets online for a show at PNC Bank Arts Center from 2003 to 2011?

You could be eligible for free tickets and discounts under a preliminary court settlement with concert promoter Live Nation.

In 2009, two New Jersey men filed a class-action lawsuit against Live Nation, accusing the company — which manages the Holmdel amphitheater — of violating state consumer protection laws by padding ticket prices.

The suit claimed it was illegal for the company to include a mandatory $6 parking fee to each ticket at the Arts Center whether or not the ticket holder intended to park at the venue.

It also claimed that Live Nation's "No Service Fee Wednesday" promotion was deceptive because the company hiked the base price of tickets that were sold during the service-fee moratorium.

The settlement was approved this week in federal court in Trenton. Under the terms, concertgoers would receive three free tickets for lawn seating at designated events, as well as a coupon code for a $5 discount on tickets.

For up to four years after the settlement is final, Live Nation would agree to designate about half of its shows at both the Arts Center and the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden as "Free Ticket Events."

Those eligible could pick one ticket to three different events if they wanted, Wolfe said.

"We're very pleased," said Henry Wolfe of the Wolf Law Firm, the North Brunswick attorneys representing the plaintiffs. "It was a long effort. We feel the class members are getting substantial relief."

Anyone who brought tickets online to PNC Bank Arts Center events through Live Nation and Ticketmaster between 2003 and 2011 would be eligible. According to the settlement, Live Nation estimates that would include nearly 363,000 people.

"If they purchased the tickets on the internet, they'll get a notice that will explain the settlement and provide other information on the process," Wolfe said.

The settlement does not include people who bought tickets at the Arts Center's box office, even if they paid with a credit card.

Live Nation would admit no wrongdoing under the settlement, which still needs final approval from a judge. A hearing is set for March.

"Out of respect for the judge and the process, we will not comment on this case beyond what is contained in the court documents," Live Nation said in a statement. "We look forward to the final resolution of this matter."

Star-Ledger staff writer Peggy McGlone contributed to this report.

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