I have some knowledge of the ticketing contract with a small independently owned venue (posting anonymously because I don't want to share their business details in an identifiable fashion). We contract with Ticketfly, a Ticketmaster competitor (Ticketfly is owned by Pandora). Ticketfly may not have as many dark patterns, but they also charge material fees (on a recent transaction, close to 30% more).
I can confirm that while Ticketfly keeps the fees, they pay the venue a pretty substantial contract-signing fee every time we renew. In this fashion, the act gets a certain percentage (even 100%) of ticket sales, but the venue ends up participating in Ticketfly's revenue stream on top of that. I'm sure Ticketmaster and others have similar strategies for creating and concealing incentives. While some ticketing companies may be abusive, there's a certain amount of letting the ticketing companies take the heat for revenue streams that others (venues and performers) benefit from, either directly or indirectly.
Separately, on one point OP is wrong: "Facility Fee" goes entirely to the facility and would be charged at the box office as well.
I can confirm that while Ticketfly keeps the fees, they pay the venue a pretty substantial contract-signing fee every time we renew. In this fashion, the act gets a certain percentage (even 100%) of ticket sales, but the venue ends up participating in Ticketfly's revenue stream on top of that. I'm sure Ticketmaster and others have similar strategies for creating and concealing incentives. While some ticketing companies may be abusive, there's a certain amount of letting the ticketing companies take the heat for revenue streams that others (venues and performers) benefit from, either directly or indirectly.
Separately, on one point OP is wrong: "Facility Fee" goes entirely to the facility and would be charged at the box office as well.