NEW POLL: Massive Public Support for Ticketing Reforms as the National Consumers League Demands Full Senate Vote on the Ticket ACT

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Consumer Advocates Urge Senate Leadership to Bring S. 281 to the Floor, Aligning with the 87% of Voters Demanding Strict Protections Against Fraud, Junk Fees, and Speculative Ticketing

Washington DC – With comprehensive new public opinion survey data showing near-unanimous American consensus in favor of live event ticketing reform, the National Consumers League (NCL) today called on Senate leadership to immediately schedule a floor vote on S. 281, the Transparency In Charges for Key Events Ticketing Act (the TICKET Act).

The new research, conducted by Breakwater Strategy on behalf of Music Artists Coalition, reveals a deeply frustrated public: 84% of consumers agree that the ticketing industry needs common-sense reforms to protect fans, while only 42% believe the market currently operates fairly. Crucially, 87% of registered voters nationally support legislation explicitly designed to mandate transparency and fairness in the ticketing marketplace.

“Fans are at the mercy of a rigged industry, dominated by the illegal Live Nation monopoly, that is awash with predatory practices like hidden fees, ticket bots, speculative tickets, and deceptive reseller conduct,” said John Breyault, NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud. “The data could not be clearer: Americans are sick of being gouged. The TICKET Act (H.R. 1402/S. 281) passed the full House of Representatives and was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee, both on overwhelming and bipartisan votes. It is ready for action. We urge the full Senate to bring this bill to the floor for a vote immediately and deliver the protections that fans have been waiting for.”

“While nearly every industry player has their hands in the cookie jar at the expense of fans, NCL stands firmly and uniquely on the side of the consumer,” said NCL Chief Executive Officer Sally Greenberg. “The TICKET Act may not be a perfect solution, but in our judgment, it represents the absolute best way to deliver meaningful protections in a deeply compromised marketplace.”

The TICKET Act Delivers What the Public Demands
The new polling data shows staggering public support for the primary provisions contained within the TICKET Act, including:

Mandatory All-In Pricing: The TICKET Act outlaws hidden “junk fees” by requiring ticket sellers to clearly and conspicuously display the total event ticket price upfront, including all mandatory service, processing, and delivery fees.

The Polling Data: 82% of voters nationally support an industry-wide mandate for all-in pricing. Upfront price transparency was ranked as a top legislative priority, with 95% of voters declaring it important to fixing the industry.

A Ban on Speculative Ticketing: The TICKET Act bans “speculative ticketing”—the deceptive practice where predatory brokers list and sell tickets they do not actually possess, driving up artificial demand and creating consumer confusion.

The Polling Data: 82% of consumers support a ban on speculative ticket sales, and 84% agree that brokers should be legally barred from selling tickets they don’t own.

Stronger Anti-Bot Protections: The TICKET Act takes aim at illegal ticket-buying software (“bots”) by requiring the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to submit a comprehensive report on the enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act of 2016, establishing clear metrics to crack down on bot operators.

The Polling Data: Deployed bots remain a massive source of public anger. 94% of voters say preventing automated bots from bulk-buying tickets is a critical priority, and 82% specifically support giving the FTC resources to catch and financially penalize repeat bot offenders.

Voters Reward TICKET Act Champions

The survey emphasizes that legislators who champion solutions included in the TICKET Act stand to win significant favor with their constituents. The data shows that:

  • 70% of voters are more likely to support an elected official who champions all-in pricing;
  • 68% would be more likely to support an elected official who supports a speculative ticket bans; and
  • 68% would favor an official who supports expansion and enforcement of the BOTS Act.

Call to Action: Time for a Senate Vote

The TICKET Act represents a bipartisan consensus that addresses the structural rot in the live event marketplace. Consumer advocacy groups and musical artists rank as the most trusted stakeholders to lead this fight, while the public’s trust in Congress’s willingness to act remains critically low.

“The Senate has a historic opportunity to restore honesty to live entertainment and prove to the American people that it can act on overwhelming, bipartisan public demand,” added Breyault “There is no reason to delay. Real ticket market reform is within reach. Senate leadership should bring S. 281 to a vote on the full Senate floor immediately.”

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.