Shareholder sues Vail Resorts over alleged price-fixing of Epic Pass
Shareholder Gary Peterson filed a federal class action accusing Vail Resorts of colluding with rivals to illegally set Epic Pass prices, violating antitrust and securities laws.
In a new federal filing, Broomfield resident Gary Peterson sued Vail Resorts and its board, alleging that the ski-operator exchanged sensitive financial information with competitors Alterra Mountain Company, Boyne Resorts and Powdr Corp to fix the price of its Epic Pass. The complaint contends that this coordination produced simultaneous, substantial increases in passes, day tickets, rentals and lessons, inflating costs for skiers and boosting Vail’s profits and stock price.
Peterson asserts the conduct violated antitrust statutes and securities regulations, damaging Vail’s reputation and exposing it to existing consumer class actions. He also alleges that Vail’s CEO Robert Katz promoted the pricing strategy, leading to record-high day-ticket prices and a 39% rise in the Epic Pass cost from 2021 to last year. The suit, represented by attorney Jeffrey Berens of Johnson Fistel, requests a jury trial and restitution for shareholders. Neither Vail Resorts nor its representatives have commented.
Why it matters
The case could force a major ski operator to change pricing practices and affect thousands of pass-holding customers.
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