The TICKET Act and What It Means For Live Events

The TICKET Act and Live Events 

The TICKET Act identifies an event as any live concert, theatrical performance, sporting event, show, or similarly scheduled live activity for over 200 guests. This bill was officially introduced on January 28, 2025, and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar on April 29th. To date, no further action has been taken, but various ticket issuers are preparing for changes to their systems in order to comply with new regulations. 

For consumers, the introduction of this act is highly celebrated as it aims to provide transparency into ticket pricing and refund protections in the case of cancellations. However, for ticket issuers, including agents and venues, the changes may cause compliance complications for those with outdated systems that don’t already carry an “all-in pricing” feature. Another concern for ticket issuers is that consumers may not understand the reasoning or importance behind some of the fees they now need to post. Utilizing performing arts management software can simplify this transition by offering integrated pricing transparency features. 

State and Federal Compliance 

Although the TICKET Act would establish stricter transparency laws in ticket sales nationwide, many states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, and Tennessee* have already created laws that legally require ticket issuers to display the full ticket price when advertising tickets. These laws prevent ticket issuers from the “bait and switch” routine where they would draw in patrons with one price, but then add excessive fees afterwards that may sometimes surpass the cost of the original ticket.  

Eliminating Sticker Shock 

With accesso ShoWare, venues have always had the option to display any ticket fees in an itemized list that allows full transparency for patrons. This existing optional feature, which must be turned on by an accesso ShoWare  developer, displays the complete price of the ticket (the face value plus any excluded fees) throughout the public site ticket selection process. With all-in pricing, patrons will see the total cost of their tickets immediately upon adding them to their cart. This helps eliminate sticker shock and allows consumers to stay within their budgets when making purchases, rather than be upset at the end of the transaction with unexpected fees.  

For current clients who want to go ahead and turn this feature on, we encourage you to reach out to your Client Success Manager to complete this change.  

Refund Requirements 

The TICKET Act also aims to provide consumer protection in the case that an event is cancelled or postponed for more than 6 months. With accesso ShoWare, venues can easily refund individuals, or team up with our developers for en-masse refunds in the case of an event cancellation. With our top-notch customer service team, there is no need to stress when unexpected hurdles come up. 

Ticket Security 

Another point of focus for the TICKET Act is the ban on speculative ticket sales. This means that venues and resellers will no longer be able to sell tickets that they do “not have actual or constructive possession” of. With accesso ShoWare’s system, patrons are able to securely place their tickets back into inventory for resale. Because the tickets are back in inventory, consumers can be sure that they are purchasing a valid ticket for entry. Ticket Resale is a core feature of accesso ShoWare at no additional cost to the venue. 

Compliance and Preparing for Change 

As the Junk Fees Rule is implemented across the United States, venues and other ticket issuers will be in a better position to prepare for the TICKET Act and any other similar legislation. For accesso ShoWare clients, our software is already set up to provide your clients with total transparency while allowing you control over your pricing. With our highly rated customer service team and decades of experience in the ticketing industry, accesso ShoWare is ready to guide your venue into this new age of ticket transparency and regulations. 

*This list is not exhaustive. Venues may want to consult a legal expert to see if they need to add any additional features or information for clients in order to comply with federal regulations if the TICKET Act is enacted.