SFC Statement Applauding President Trump’s Executive Order on Ticketing
On Monday, March 31st, President Trump signed an Executive Order “to protect fans from exploitative ticket scalping and bring commonsense reforms to America’s live entertainment ticketing industry.” Sports Fans Coalition has long advocated for the policies in this order at state and federal levels.
“Sports Fans Coalition applauds President Trump’s Executive Order on ticketing. We have long called for public policies that promote competition and consumer choice in live events and support actions against entrenched monopolists that harm the fan experience. We support BOTS Act enforcement and an end to unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive business practices by both primary and secondary ticketing companies.
We look forward to working with the FTC and DOJ to protect fans. However, Congress must still act. The TICKET Act directly responds to the President’s Executive Order by requiring all-in pricing, banning speculative ticketing, prohibiting deceptive websites, and improving enforcement of the BOTS Act. This order and the TICKET Act will, in the words of Kid Rock, ‘Make America Fun Again.’”
The TICKET Act (S. 281/HB. 1402) represents the most comprehensive ticketing consumer protection legislation in nearly a decade and director mirrors the executive order. Specifically it:
Mandates all-in pricing upfront – No more hidden fees—the first number you see is the last number you see.
Bans deceptive ticketing – No more buying a promise for a ticket, now you'll actually be buying tickets.
Ends deceptive websites – No more lying about whether the reseller is who they say they are.
Creates refund requirements – Stop waiting to get your money back when a show is cancelled or postponed for a long time.
Requests an FTC BOTS Report – The FTC will finally answer the biggest question plaguing fans, "Why are there so many bots?!"
Last Congress, the TICKET Act passed the House of Representatives 388-24, and this Congress has already passed the Senate Commerce Committee by voice vote. We urge Congress to take swift action and send the TICKET Act to the President’s Desk.