Myths vs Facts on Event Ticket Selling

FCAN today issued a press release supporting legislation to allow consumers to control tickets to concerts or sports events that they buy.  Ticket sellers like Ticketmaster may soon offer only electronic tickets, meaning that you can’t resell your ticket or even give it to a friend.  You’ll be required to show picture ID to use the ticket and get into the event.

We believe that you, the consumer, own your ticket and should be able to give it away or resell it. It’s yours. You put down your money. You can sell it online or you can buy a ticket at an online auction. There’s a market for tickets, and sometimes you pay less, sometimes more.

The Fan Freedom Project, which is promoting this legislation, follows the work of groups like Radiohead and Pearl Jam, which have fought against the ticket monopolies.

Here is part of the press release:

“This legislation simply ensures that consumers who purchase a ticket to an event will have ownership of that ticket and ensures choice in the ticket market,” said Bill Newton, executive director of FCAN. “There is a lot of misinformation surrounding this legislation, and it is important that Florida consumers know the facts.”

FACTS ABOUT HB 225 AND SB 392:

HB 225 & SB 392 PROTECT A COMPETITIVE, TRANSPARENT AND FREE MARKET: HB 225 and SB 392 will ensure that consumers have the right to sell or transfer their ticket any way they choose, to anyone they choose, at any price they choose. This is the essence of a well-functioning free market.

HB 225 & SB 392 PROTECT BASIC RIGHTS OF FANS: We have all given tickets away to friends and family, or sold tickets to colleagues when forced to back out of a game or concert. HB 225 and 392 protect these basic freedoms that we have all enjoyed.

HB 225 & SB 392 CURB PREDATORY PRACTICES OF THE TICKET INDUSTRY:

HB 225 and SB 392 ensure that teams, venues or companies like Ticketmaster cannot employ restrictive technologies (like restrictive paperless tickets) that lock valid ticketholders out of events.

MYTHS ABOUT HB 225 AND SB 392:

HB 225 & SB 392 REMOVE PROTECTIONS FOR NONPROFIT VENUES: This is false. HB 225 and SB 392 will uphold the current law that holds secondary ticket sellers responsible for refunding the tickets they have sold on the secondary market. The original ticket seller will not be held responsible for refunding tickets purchased on the secondary market.

HB 225 & SB 392 GIVE SCALPERS UNLIMITED ACCESS TO TICKETS: This is false. HB 225 and SB 392 will not affect in any way how a venue can choose to restrict the number of tickets that a customer can purchase.

HB 225 & SB 392 HURT CONSUMERS: This is false. HB 225 and SB 392 will HELP consumers by ensuring their right to transfer tickets and recoup losses if they cannot attend an event.