Pasco Reporter

This week, the TICKET Act, a bipartisan effort spearheaded by Congressman Gus Bilirakis of Florida and Representative Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, successfully passed through the House of Representatives. The legislation aims to enhance transparency in the entertainment industry by mandating that event ticket sellers display the full ticket price, inclusive of all fees, upfront. Additionally, the bill requires refunds for cancelled or postponed events and safeguards consumers against deceptive ticketing websites.

The TICKET Act aligns with existing advertising guidelines for airline tickets, ensuring that consumers can view the entire ticket price prior to purchase. "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," remarked Congressman Bilirakis. "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. I appreciate my colleagues’ support of this bill in the House and urge the Senate to expedite its final passage."

Congresswoman Schakowsky highlighted the widespread dissatisfaction among consumers regarding ticket purchasing. She noted, "Fans are incredibly frustrated by how hard it has become to buy event tickets. With every ticketing debacle, from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, to more recently with Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour, and so many more, their frustration grows. By introducing the bipartisan TICKET Act, we are proud to be responding to the voices of so many fans to make this process easier and more transparent. Consumers deserve to be protected from fraudulent tickets, surprise costs, and excessive fees."

The TICKET Act specifically demands that ticket sellers, from both the primary and secondary markets, adhere to several requirements. Sellers must present the complete cost of an event ticket, prohibit the sale of tickets not yet secured, and assure refunds for cancellations. Additionally, they must guarantee replacement tickets or a refund in the event of postponements and protect buyers from fraudulent websites through clear disclosures and non-deceptive URLs.

In the Senate, the TICKET Act has bipartisan support from Senator Eric Schmitt and Senator Ed Markey.