Press Releases
Reps. Pascrell, Upton, Pallone Request GAO Study into Ticket Sale IndustryBOSS ACT author & bipartisan Energy and Commerce leaders announce request for government study into ticket sales, secondary markets, and ticket-buying bots
Washington, DC,
September 13, 2016
Tags:
Economy
U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) has requested a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of the ticket industry, specifically seeking transparency regarding sales, public information, secondary markets, and use of automated ticket-purchasing programs, or bots. The study was requested by Rep. Pascrell, House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ). "The ticket industry is about as transparent as a brick wall, with consumers and fans often being locked out from seeing their favorite sports teams, artists, and shows. We are asking on behalf of consumers and fans for more information and greater transparency," Rep. Pascrell said. "We all stood in line for tickets not that long ago. First come, first serve. Now bots are jumping to the front and secondary markets are taking a cut before the booth opens to the public. We cannot allow this multi-billion dollar industry to operate in the shadows anymore. I want to thank Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Pallone for working with me to help bring light to the opaque practices of the ticket marketplace." The GAO review request was submitted on Monday, September 12, to Comptroller General of the United States and head of the GAO Gene L. Dodaro, and signed by the three members. (Letter available here.) "Representing Asbury Park, I understand the passion of fans who want to see acts like Bruce Springsteen, and consumers deserve the opportunity to purchase tickets in a fair and transparent marketplace," Rep. Pallone said. "I am glad to be working with Congressman Pascrell and Chairman Upton on this important issue and a GAO report will help Congress to take the necessary steps to address the most egregious practices in the online ticket selling space." Rep. Pascrell is the author of the BOSS ACT (Better Oversight of Secondary Sales and Accountability in Concert Ticketing), legislation creating a more transparent and regulated marketplace for concert and other ticket sales. In 2009, after the botched sale of tickets to a Bruce Springsteen concert at the IZOD Center, Rep. Pascrell first introduced the BOSS ACT to establish transparency and accountability in the primary and secondary ticket markets, protect consumers from nefarious business practices, and ensure that real fans get the first crack at tickets to their favorite shows. Since then, developments in the ticketing industry have prompted an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, at Rep. Pascrell’s request, that led to prohibitions on some of the secondary market’s worst marketing practices. |