Florida Bill ticketing

Photo Credit: Denys Kostyuchenko

Lawmakers in Florida have introduced a bill that would prohibit taxpayer-supported venues from signing exclusivity deals with ticketing firms.

A new bill introduced in Florida would prohibit any venue that has accepted taxpayer funding within the last 10 years from signing an exclusive ticketing deal, while preventing venues from forcing artists to sell tickets on a particular website.

“The legislature finds that the sole-source contracts for the sale of tickets and licenses to events located at live performance venues within this state violate public policy and harm the public good,” reads the bill, defining a “live performance venue” as any stadium, convention center, exhibition hall, arena, coliseum, or auditorium that has accepted federal, state, or local taxpayer funds for capital improvements or operational expenses within the last 10 years.

“A performance artist who is contracted to perform at a live performance venue may not be required to market, sell, or distribute tickets to the event at which they are performing through a specific ticket platform with which the live performance venue has an exclusive contract,” the proposed state law continues, explaining that venues must allow performing artists to sell tickets to their event at the ticketing platform of the artists’ choice.

The bill would also eliminate “hidden fees,” requiring the listing price of the ticket to reflect the final price. Florida State Senator Jason Brodeur and Representative Alex Andrade filed SB 204 and its companion bill HB 177 earlier this week.

Meanwhile, a bill in Pennsylvania designed to protect against “speculative ticketing” is on its way through the state’s House of Representatives. That bill, besides forcing ticket resellers to have tickets in-hand before advertising or selling them, would also enable consumers to sue for damages.

“I’m not trying to stop or restrict secondary sellers from stopping their trade,” said Pennsylvania State Representative Rob Matzie, whose bill would also prevent ticket resellers from using deceptive websites designed to make consumers believe they’re purchasing directly from the venue. “I’m merely calling for honesty and transparency in that process.”