Last week, from his perch as the U.S. House Innovation, Data and Commerce Subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., championed a proposal to “improve transparency in the entertainment industry by requiring all event ticket sellers to display the total ticket price—including all required fees—in any advertisement, marketing or promotional materials.”
Bilirakis and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., who leads Democrats on the subcommittee, are backing the TICKET Act.
“The TICKET Act would mirror current advertising guidelines for airline tickets, requiring that consumers are able to see the full price of the ticket before purchase. This will ensure that when American consumers are buying tickets (for concerts, theater, sporting events, etc). they have full transparency throughout the process. Studies from the New York Attorney General’s office and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) show that fees can contribute anywhere from 21 percent to as much as 58 percent of the total cost of tickets,” Bilirakis’ office noted.
“There is nothing more disappointing for an avid fan than being lured into the prospect of an affordable ticket to see his or her favorite sports team or band only to learn later in the check-out process that the final price tag is significantly higher. Our pro-consumer bill brings much needed transparency to the whole ticketing industry, and I’m committed to working towards reforms that protect consumers and provide certainty in the marketplace,” said Bilirakis.
“Fans are incredibly frustrated by how hard it has become to buy event tickets. With every ticketing debacle, from Beyoncé to Taylor Swift, and so many more, their frustration grows,” said Schakowsky. “By introducing the bipartisan TICKET Act today, we are proud to be responding to the voices of so many fans to make this process easier and more transparent. We are looking forward to further engagement from stakeholders as we continue to advance this legislation for the benefit of fans and artists. Consumers deserve to be protected from fraudulent tickets, surprise costs, and excessive fees.”
Over in the U.S. Senate, U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, are handling the companion measure.
