New Colorado Live Event Ticketing Legislation Will Make Ticketing More Transparent, Less Deceptive, And Protect Fans
Bipartisan Bill Guarantees Refunds, Bans Hidden Fees, Cracks Down on Deceptive Website Marketing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 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, today announced its support for HB 24-1378, new bipartisan legislation introduced in both houses of the Colorado Legislature which would improve consumer protection and transparency while combating some of the deceptive practices in ticketing. The coalition also welcomes the addition of the Denver chapter of the Center for New Liberalism as its newest member and advocate.
“We are thrilled to endorse this legislation to pass clear pro-consumer legislation in Colorado, and if this becomes law, we will see price transparency for the first time and a prohibition on deceptive websites,” said Brian Hess, Executive Director of Sports Fans Coalition. “These key consumer protections will add to existing statutes in Colorado which protects fans’ rights to freely use, sell, or give away their previously purchased tickets without any inappropriate encumbrance of for-profit artists, venues and their box office ticketing partners.”
HB24-1378 would:
Prohibit hidden fees by instituting all-in, up-front price transparency
Bans 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 builds 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.