The bipartisan legislation improves transparency and fights deception in the ticketing market
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation has marked up and passed the Transparency in Charges for Key Events Ticketing Act (S.281), or TICKET Act. The introduction and committee support for the TICKET Act is a necessary first step to ensuring a fair, dynamic, and transparent ticket market exists for fans nationwide.
The TICKET Act has near-universal support from both parties, consumer protection organizations, trade associations, and industry groups. I’m attaching a letter from consumer protection organizations to the committee supporting the legislation.
The TICKET Act illegalizes hidden ticket fees by mandating all-in, upfront pricing so the first price you see is the last number you see, plus tax. It also establishes refund requirements by providing fans a full refund for a canceled event or, if the event is postponed, a comparable replacement ticket, at the approval of the fan.
The bill cracks down on misleading websites and deceptive URLs. Ticket websites cannot claim to be “official” sellers or resellers unless they are. Prohibits ticket resellers from using the names of venues, teams, artists, and events in their online domain names.
It also bans deceptive “speculative” ticketing meaning no more buying a promise for a ticket. Sellers can now only offer tickets they have in possession or offer ticket procurement shopping services, which some ticket sellers offer today.
The TICKET Act requires clarity and a clear distinction between tickets for sale and ticket procurement services. It maintains the ability for fans to purchase tickets conveniently through ticket procurement services but requires ticket sellers to ensure clear and conspicuous disclosures and a distinction between in-possession tickets for sale and pay-now-procure-later shopping services. This helps fans avoid the chaos of public on-sales and the special access that often comes with them.
The bill assesses the use of illegal software bots by requiring the FTC to study the 2016-enacted BOTS Act, its enforcement to date, and help identify the challenges with its enforcement.
The Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights Coalition was founded in February 2023 by leading consumer and fan advocacy organizations to offer a framework for ticketing legislation that can improve the market that serves millions of fans each year. The Bill of Rights features five pillars; The Right to Transferability, The Right to Transparency, The Right to Set the Price, The Right to a Fair Marketplace and The Right to Recourse. The Ticket Buyer’s Bill of Rights has been endorsed by The Denver Chapter of the Center for New Liberalism, National Consumers League, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of California, National Association of Consumer Advocates, Public Knowledge, Sports Fans Coalition, Virginia Citizen Consumer Council, Protect Ticket Rights, and Fan Freedom.
