Senate introduces legislation addressing fan frustration over ticket sales

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

Dec. 8, 2023, 5:14 PM EST


A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced legislation Friday aimed at correcting flaws in the ticketing industry and increasing transparency for patrons of live events. The bill, called the Fans First Act, seeks to address three main issues: price transparency, consumer protection and bad actors seeking to resell tickets at exorbitant prices.

Consumer complaints against the industry, and with Ticketmaster in particular, came to a head in late 2022 when the ticketing giant struggled to keep up with the high demand for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Ticketmaster was subsequently sued by Swift fans who alleged the company engaged in anticompetitive practices and permitted scalpers to buy tickets. The Senate Judiciary Committee also held a hearing to examine Ticketmaster’s outsize role in the industry.

The act would require all ticket sellers and resellers to disclose a ticket's total cost, including fees. It would also require a breakdown of the ticket price.

“The current ticketing system is riddled with problems and doesn’t serve the needs of fans, teams, artists, or venues,” Cornyn said in a statement. “This legislation would rebuild trust in the ticketing system by cracking down on bots and others who take advantage of consumers through price gouging and other predatory practices and increase price transparency for ticket purchasers.”

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/senate-introduces-ticketing-industry-fans-firstact-rcna128791

[TheFarseer]

1. I'm curious how this would stop bots

I hope this will stop price gouging and not just require them to very clearly explain how they are ripping you off.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Waiting for the text version to be uploaded here --

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/3457/text?s=2&r=1

But a "The Guardian" article notes this -

(snip)

The act would also strengthen the Better Online Ticket Sales (Bots) Act, signed into law in 2016, to further prohibit the use of bots to purchase tickets online, and would impose civil penalties on resellers engaging in illegal ticket sale practices. The bill would create a reporting website for fans to file complaints, to be enforced and monitored by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general. And it seeks to stop bad actors by prohibiting the sale of “spec” tickets which resellers do not yet possess, prevents the use of deceptive websites and bad actors masquerading as legitimate sellers, and requires reporting of Bots Act violations from ticketing companies to the FTC.

(snip)

More: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/dec/08/fans-first-ticketing-price-reform-bill

[hlthe2b]

3. So while WWIII with Russia looms-- given we are about to leave Ukraine to languish on its own...

and we haven't found a way to fund either Ukraine or our own government past a pending shutdown, THIS is the priority? I'm glad for those who want to attend concerts and other events and it is long past due in coming, but NOW?

Sorry, I am not celebrating...I'm too angry.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

4. That was my first thought.

While Europe is joining together to give the Ukranians what they need to defeat Putin, our congress (mostly Republicans) is diddling around with ticket prices.

While one in five American children go to bed hungry, the Repugs try to find anything to impeach Biden for, because it will give TFG ammunition for the upcoming election (not my words, theirs).

They would rather complain about the problem of illegal immigration than engage in a meaningful discussion where they put forward their ideas on solving the problem.

They would rather put a religious zealot as second in line to the presidency than draw on the pool of highly qualified people -- some from outside of government -- to hold that position.

They would rather leave town on extended vacations than solve the very real problems our country faces, not the least of which is having the leader of the Republican party clearly state his intention to be a dictator for a day. ("I just want to stick it in a little." )

But no, those ticket prices are too damned high.

[riversedge]

8. Indeed, our congress is in a sad state of affairs.

[Hotler]

5. Somebody related to a sitting Senator or higher up got burned and in order to stop

hearing about it day in and day out at the breakfast table, they created this.

[aggiesal]

6. Why doesn't this apply to the ''Junk Fees'' at ...

Hotels, Airlines and Banks, with all their fees structures?

I read once that Banks make more money on their fees, then they do off their investments.

[aggiesal]

7. John Oliver on ''Last Week Tonight'', did a story on ticket scams ...

and it wasn't just the ticket agencies.

In that story, they highlighted how a Justin Bieber concert sold out Madison Square Garden (20,000 tixs) in 30 seconds.
Investigation showed that around 10% of all tickets (2,000 tixs) were actually available for purchase at the actual ticket price, another percentage were for VIP's (Sponsors, Promoters, Radio Station's, ...).
Bieber himself held back tickets and immediately went into the resale markets, where he got about X% over the actual ticket price.

Watch here. But be aware, it's pretty disgusting.