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.