Sens. Cruz, Cantwell Introduce Bill to Stop Hidden Fees for Concerts, Sporting Events
TICKET Act Gives Full Price Transparency to Buyers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) today introduced bipartisan legislation to require all event ticket sellers to display the total ticket price—including all required fees—in any advertisement or marketing materials. Just like how consumers see the full price of an airline ticket online, the new “TICKET Act” will make buying tickets for large sporting events and concerts more transparent. The bill would also disclose to consumers if a ticket being offered for sale is a so-called “speculative ticket,” meaning it is not within the seller’s possession.
Studies from the New York Attorney General’s office and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) show that fees can contribute anywhere from 21% to as much as 58% of the total cost of tickets.
Upon introduction of the TICKET Act, Sen. Cruz said:
“Sports fans and concertgoers alike have experienced the frustration of expecting to pay the listed price for a ticket only to be hit with a slew of hidden fees at checkout. These unadvertised fees are a nuisance and deter consumers from following through with a purchase. The TICKET Act brings transparency to the whole ticketing industry, which is dominated by a few large players that can capitalize on these hidden fees. I’m proud to introduce with Senator Cantwell this bipartisan, pro-consumer legislation to bring transparency to millions of American fans looking to attend their favorite events.”
Sen. Cantwell said:
“When families budget for a night at a ball game or to hear their favorite band, they shouldn’t have to worry about being surprised by hidden fees that suddenly raise the final cost of tickets well over the advertised price. The TICKET Act requires sellers to disclose the real price of tickets up front. The price they say should be the price you pay. This bill is one part of comprehensive legislation I plan to introduce to rein in deceptive junk fees driving up costs for consumers.”
To learn more about the TICKET Act, click HERE.
The full text of the legislation is available HERE.
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