A bid to ban free tickets for a Bon Jovi concert in New York this weekend from being sold on the internet has failed - because the city's mayor has refused to enforce strict guidelines prohibiting third party sales.

Concert promoters for the Central Park bash threatened to ban black market ticket holders from the event after discovering thousands of tickets were on internet auction sites, selling for up to $1,000.

But according to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, government officials are unable to take any action against the third parties involved. Bloomberg says: "The scalping is just a way of life. I can't tell you it's not worth that kind of money. It's up to you if you want to spend the money.

But whatever the scalping laws are, you're going to have to comply with them." A spokesperson for internet auction website eBay, which has housed nearly 400 of the for-sale seats, adds: "We can't effectively enforce third-party contracts. It's up to the event organizer to enforce whatever limitations are placed on the tickets."

A spokesperson for Bon Jovi said the band was "outraged" by reports the tickets were being marked up for profit by online scalpers, adding, "This is designed as a free concert, a gift to the city and the metropolitan area, and we expect everyone will join in that spirit."

More than 60,000 concert-goers are expected at the concert.

- Bon Jovi Pictures
- Bon Jovi Videos

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)