CONSUMER PROTECTION LEGISLATION FOR LIVE EVENT TICKETING PASSES COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HEADS TO GOVEROR POLIS’ DESK
Leading Consumer Groups Cheer “New Gold Standard” in Live Event Ticketing Statute
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2024
Contact: Ian Eli Lee: ilee@vision360partners.com
Denver, CO. – The Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights Coalition, representing leading consumer protection and fan advocacy organizations, released the following statement applauding both chambers of the General Assembly for passing the most pro-consumer ticketing law in the United States. HB24-1378, a bipartisan bill designed to improve consumer protection and transparency while combating deceptive practices in ticketing, passed the Colorado House last week and the Colorado Senate yesterday on a vote of 30-3 with minor technical amendments. The Colorado House quickly concurred with the Senate’s amended version of the bill, sending it to Governo Polis’ desk to be signed into law. The Governor has 30 days to sign the bill.
This new law will build upon Colorado’s current law protecting the rights of fans to freely use, sell, or transfer their purchased tickets, which helps to provide Colorado fans with other sources from which to buy tickets other than the venue box office or its contracted “primary ticketer.” Polling conducted in May 2023 found that 81% of Coloradans support this current law, agreeing that “someone who has purchased a ticket to a concert or sporting event should be able to sell or give away their purchased ticket however they wish.” Further, 62% said that venue box offices, teams, artists, and primary ticketing companies like Ticketmaster should not be able to prevent consumers from buying tickets through secondary resale marketplaces like StubHub, Seak Geek, or Vivid Seats.
HB24-1378 will:
Prohibit hidden fees by instituting all-in, up-front price transparency
Ban any increase of the ticket price after a consumer selects the ticket for purchase
Guarantee refunds for canceled shows
Ban the use of deceptive websites which impersonate a venue or seller
"With the passage of HB 24-1378, Colorado is poised to become the nation's gold standard for consumer protection in live event ticketing," said Brian Hess, Executive Director of Sports Fans Coalition. "Colorado started with transferability, now the Centennial State adds upfront all-in pricing, refund guarantees, and bans on deceptive websites. It has been a long process to reach this momentous point, and HB-1378 will stand as a shining example of what can be accomplished with strong, consensus-driven leadership and with consumer protection advocates at the table from the start. We commend Representatives Lindstedt and Valdez and Senators Gardner and Sullivan for standing up for all of Colorado's fans."
“Colorado is once again leading the way in protecting fans,” said National Consumers League Vice President John Breyault. “We appreciate the commitment that Gov. Polis and leaders in the Colorado General Assembly have shown to ensuring that fans get a fair shake in the Centennial State.”
“Transparency is desperately needed in ticketing, and this new law will make ticket pricing more transparent from the start so that we fans are no longer surprised by hidden fees,” said Brian Berry, Advocacy Director of the fans’ rights initiative Protect Ticket Rights. “This is a common sense bill with consumer protection at its core and we appreciate the determination of lawmakers and Governor Polis to put consumers’ needs over the profit-motive of entrenched industry interests.”
Colorado is one of six states that has enshrined the right of its citizens to freely use, give away, or sell their tickets through transferability. Polling conducted last year found that Colorado voters agreed four to one that consumers should maintain this right to give away or sell their purchased tickets. Because of this protection, Colorado’s sports fans have enjoyed more than $5 million in savings by buying tickets on secondary markets between 2017 and 2023 from ticket holders unable to attend games but willing to resell them for less than their original price.
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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. Learn more at www.ticketbuyerbillofrights.org.
Colorado’s Pro-Consumer Ticket Bill Continues to Sail,Passes Senate Committee, Next Stop Full Senate
Bill Requires Disclosure of Fees, Guarantees Refunds, Bans Deceptive Websites
For Immediate Release
May 2, 2024
Contact: Karl Howley, khowley@vision360partners.com
Denver, CO. – The Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights Coalition, representing leading consumer protection and fan advocacy organizations, released the following statement after the Colorado Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee advanced HB24-1378 today. The Colorado House passed the bill on April 14th. The legislation must now be considered by the full Colorado Senate.
“Governor Polis called on the Legislature and stakeholders to work together this session to pass a truly pro-consumer bill and we are thrilled to see it happen,” said Brian Hess, Executive Director of the Sports Fans Coalition. “Too often fans are duped by deceptive websites and surprising hidden fees that don’t appear until the payment screen, and this legislation will fix that by making upfront, all-in pricing the law along with other important protections.”
HB24-1378 would:
Prohibit hidden fees by instituting all-in, up-front price transparency
Ban any increase of the ticket price after a consumer selects the ticket for purchase
Guarantee refunds for canceled shows
Ban the use of deceptive websites which impersonate a venue or seller
The rights that HB24 24-1378 provides build upon this Colorado law and would promote competition and fairly regulate all sectors of the market. This legislation institutes protections for consumers in both the primary (initial sale) and secondary (resale) ticketing market. The bill would crack down on deception at all levels of ticket distribution, from the on sale to the use of the ticket.
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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. Learn more at www.ticketbuyerbillofrights.org.
Bill to Protect Colorado Live Event Fans, End Deceptive Practices Passes Key Assembly Committee
Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation will Improve Ticketing and Crack Down on Deception
For Immediate Release
April 10, 2024
Contact: Ian Eli Lee: ilee@vision360partners.com
Denver, CO. – The Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights Coalition, representing leading consumer protection and fan advocacy organizations, released the following statement after the Colorado Assembly’s Business Affairs & Labor Committee voted 8-1 to advance HB24-1378. The bipartisan bill would improve consumer protection and transparency while combating some of the deceptive practices in ticketing. The bill has been referred to the full Colorado Assembly for a vote.
“We commend the committee for advancing this bill, which will protect Colorado sports, music, and arts fans from deceptive practices and guarantee refunds for canceled shows,” said Brian Hess, Executive Director of TBBR Coalition member Sports Fans Coalition. “This bill represents a bipartisan effort by Colorado lawmakers to protect their constituents from hidden fees, unfair markups, and the use of deceptive websites which trick fans into thinking they represent the venue. Our consumer protection and fan advocacy groups remain committed to working alongside the Assembly, Senate, and Governor to ensure this critical bill is signed into law.”
HB24-1378 would:
Prohibit hidden fees by instituting all-in, up-front price transparency
Ban any increase of the ticket price after a consumer selects the ticket for purchase
Guarantee refunds for canceled shows
Ban the use of deceptive websites which impersonate a venue or seller
Colorado is one of six states that has enshrined the right of its citizens to freely use, give away, or sell their tickets through transferability. Polling conducted last year found that Colorado voters agreed four to one that consumers should maintain this right to give away or sell their purchased tickets. Because of this protection, Colorado’s sports fans have enjoyed more than $5 million in savings by buying tickets on secondary markets between 2017 and 2023 from ticket holders unable to attend games but willing to resell them for less than their original price.
The rights that HB24 24-1378 provides build upon this Colorado law and would promote competition and fairly regulate all sectors of the market. This legislation, unlike previous bills, would institute protections for consumers in both the primary and secondary ticketing market. The bill would crack down on deception at all levels of ticket distribution, from the on sale to the use of the ticket.
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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. Learn more at www.ticketbuyerbillofrights.org.
Maryland Passes SB 539 to Enhance Transparency in Live Event Ticketing
For Immediate Release
April 4, 2024
Contact: Karl Howley khowley@vision360partners.com
The Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights coalition released the following statement today following this week’s passage of an amended SB 539, legislation that regulates the sale of live event tickets:
“Transparency is lacking in ticketing and this new law will improve the otherwise murky market within which Marylanders purchase tickets to their favorite games and concerts. There is a lot of reform needed to comprehensively fix ticketing, and this new law will take some important steps forward to enhance transparency, ensuring consumers know the true price of their tickets early in the process inclusive of all fees, and what the refund policies are if the event is postponed or cancelled. Further, this law will also ban deceptive speculative ticket sales where the seller doesn’t yet possess the tickets for sale and fails to make this arrangement clear before the customer pays. We believe consumers should be better informed at every step in the process and this law will make important strides toward achieving this goal.
“We want to thank lawmakers for their hard work, ensuring an equitable law was passed, and not falling prey to the attempts by a few corporate players in the system to criminalize ticket resale in order for them to gain more power, market share, and profits at the expense of a consumer’s right to freely comparison shop for tickets in a vibrant and competitive market and not just the venue box office and its sole ticketing partner. If a Marylander wants to sell his or her tickets that they already paid for, that is and fortunately will remain the prerogative of that fan. Fans shouldn’t be held criminally liable for engaging in their fandom. We were pleased to engage in the legislative process, to call for changes and balance where industry players sought favor, and to support the bill that ultimately passed and is being sent to the Governor.”
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The Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights Coalition was founded in February 2023 to serve as a framework for ticketing legislation that can improve the live events ticketing 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 Bill of Rights is endorsed by Economic Action Maryland, National Consumers League, Consumer Federation of America, Sports Fans Coalition, Fan Freedom, Protect Ticket Rights, the National Association of Consumer Advocates, Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Public Knowledge, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of California, and the Center for New Liberalism. Visit us at www.ticketbuyerbillofrights.org.
Consumer Protection and Fan Advocacy Groups Call on State Senate to Reject House Ticketing Legislation, Return Next Year with Pro-Consumer Bill and Begin the Process with Fan Advocates at the Table
For Immediate Release
April 4, 2024
Contact: Karl Howley khowley@vision360partners.com
Annapolis, MD – Following maneuvers this week in the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee to change SB 539, legislation passed in the State Senate on March 15, and the House passage HB 701 on Wednesday, a bill that provides handouts requested by a small cohort of concert venues in the state and that would punish Maryland ticketholders with fines and jail time if they resell their sports and concert their tickets at a profit, the Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights coalition is now calling on the Maryland State Senate to reject the House of Delegates legislation and revisit ticketing reform next year, inviting consumer advocates at the start of the process.
“The proposed amendments by the House committee make no sense, punishing sports fans who buy their tickets on a per game basis and don’t have the thousands of extra dollars it costs to buy a season ticket package, and making it a crime punishable with fines and jail times if they sell some of their tickets and make some profit to help pay for other expenses. The Senate’s version could have made Maryland a national leader in consumer protection, sadly due to special interests and these last minute handouts, the Legislature should reject this legislation and work with consumer protection organizations next year to craft pro-fan legislation,” said Brian Hess, Executive Director of the Sports Fans Coalition.
“The House of Delegates just set the stage for fans to get ripped off in shadow-market ticket sales and gave its approval for an increase in monopolistic price and fee gouging by venue box offices,” said Brian Berry, Advocacy Director of Protect Ticket Rights. “It’s bad public policy to fine or jail a ticketholder for selling his or her tickets while turning a blind eye to corporate box offices that dynamically price tickets where it might charge $1,000 for tickets that were priced at $100 one day earlier,” continued Berry.
While not perfect, SB 539 as passed by the State Senate on March 15 would mandate all-in pricing and ban the speculative sale tickets that mislead consumers into believing they are purchasing a ticket at the time of payment when in fact they are purchasing the future promise of a ticket. These are two important market reforms that will make the ticketing market more transparent for Maryland event goers, build upon the state’s current ticketing laws, and make Maryland a national leader in consumer protections for live event fans. The Senate also removed the criminalization of ticket resale.
On Tuesday, April 2, the House of Delegates’ Economic Matters Committee shirked the Senate-passed SB 539 and instead offered amendments that the Senate already struck down, most notably amendments that make it a crime to resell tickets at a price higher than originally paid. On Wednesday, April 3, the House of Delegates advanced its own legislation, HB 701, which includes the same punishments for ticketholders who resell their tickets. Importantly, while a small cohort of venues has been the driving force behind HB 701, other music venues and some professional sports teams and leagues have opposed the legislation since the start.
Read the Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights press release on the March passage of an amended SB 539 HERE.
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The Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights Coalition was founded in February 2023 to serve as a framework for ticketing legislation that can improve the live events ticketing 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 Bill of Rights is endorsed by Economic Action Maryland, National Consumers League, Consumer Federation of America, Sports Fans Coalition, Fan Freedom, Protect Ticket Rights, the National Association of Consumer Advocates, Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Public Knowledge, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of California, and the Center for New Liberalism. Visit us at www.ticketbuyerbillofrights.org.
Colorado Sports Savings Report
Introduction/Background
Every year, consumers save money on tickets when they compare and purchase tickets on the resale market. By shopping on the secondary market, fans all over the U.S. can compare deals and search for tickets within their price range. The secondary market is a platform where previously purchased tickets are offered for resale at whatever price the event organizer sets. Tickets to events or concerts often go on sale six months to a year in advance, making it difficult for consumers to plan. Life happens and sometimes fans cannot attend an event they have purchased a ticket for.
This is why transferability – which lets consumers sell or give away their tickets to freely, is critical for a fair and successful marketplace. From 2018 – 2023 sports fans in Colorado saved tremendously when shopping on the secondary market. Over the five-year span, consumers saved as much as $42 on single tickets to major league sporting events.
Automatiq, a leading data analytics and support services company in the live event ticketing industry, provided the data for this report.
2018
19.33% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $15.53554212 saved per ticket.
2019
34.65% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $19.70973769 saved per ticket.
2020
9.02% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $7.59212068 saved per ticket.
2021
16.50% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $8.0226508 saved per ticket.
2022
24.31% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $17.85648843 saved per ticket.
Colorado Rockies - Baseball
2018
30.43% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $2.910849856 saved per ticket.
2019
36.52% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $2.851800952 saved per ticket.
2020
37.41% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $0.998087666 saved per ticket.
2021
20.31% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $2.993446437 saved per ticket.
2022
30.38% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $2.351604236 saved per ticket.
2023
26.63% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $2.84281484 saved per ticket.
Colorado Avalanche – Hockey
2018
15.71% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $1.726572362 saved per ticket.
2019
14.09% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $1.610943502 saved per ticket.
2020
6.06% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $42.99739847 saved per ticket.
2021
22.53% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $6.420885944 saved per ticket.
2022
12.77% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $4.049103744 saved per ticket.
Denver Nuggets – Basketball
2018
17.39% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $2.951237998 saved per ticket.
2019
32.55% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $3.70169766 saved per ticket.
2020
17.64% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $20.37465741 saved per ticket.
2021
47.94% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $10.11106529 saved per ticket.
2022
32.51% of tickets were sold below cost, with a sum of $7.939754992 saved per ticket.
Bottom Line
Consumers appreciate the flexibility the secondary market provides. This data demonstrates how often fans can find cheaper tickets on the secondary in states like Colorado. Fans should be able to buy tickets to an event without fear of breaking the bank. Not every fan can wait in outrageous ticket queues or have credit cards that allow them access to premium ticket sales. The secondary market allows consumers to shop around for tickets and provides access to great deals within their price range.