Senator Cornyn

The Fans First Act

The Fans First Act

The current ticketing system is riddled with problems and doesn’t serve the needs of fans, teams, artists, or venues. This legislation would rebuild trust in the ticketing system by cracking down on bots and others who take advantage of consumers through price gouging and other predatory practices and increase price transparency for ticket purchasers.

- Sen. John Cornyn

The current ticketing system hurts fans, communities, sports teams, artists, and venues, many of which are small businesses. Fans are getting boxed out by bots, unauthorized resellers, and big conglomerates when they purchase tickets to see their favorite artists or need to resell a ticket. The Fans First Act aims to address flaws in the current live event ticketing system by increasing transparency in ticket sales, protecting consumers from fake or dramatically overpriced tickets, and holding those who engage in illegal ticket sale practices accountable.

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My Bill Will:

Increase Ticket Sale Transparency

Protect American Consumers

Stop Bad Actors

Increase Ticket Sale Transparency:

  • Requires all live event ticket sellers and resellers to disclose:
    • The total cost of the ticket, including fees, when the fan initially selects a ticket for purchase;
    • A breakdown of the ticket cost;
    • Clear terms and conditions of purchase;
    • Which seat or section they are selling in to avoid ticket misrepresentation;
    • And whether or not they are the original seller. 

Protect American Consumers:

  • Strengthens the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, signed into law in 2016, to further prohibit the use of bots to purchase tickets online.
  • Requires sellers and resellers to provide proof of purchase to consumers within 24 hours of purchase.
  • Requires sellers and resellers to refund consumers the full cost of the ticket when events are canceled.
  • Requires a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to further study the marketplace and make recommendations.

Stop Bad Actors:

  • Imposes civil penalties on resellers engaging in illegal ticket sale practices, creates a reporting website for fans to file complaints, and tasks the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general with enforcement.
  • Prohibits the sale of a ticket that the reseller represents they possess but actually do not, known as a speculative or “spec” ticket.
  • Prevents the use of deceptive websites and bad actors masquerading as legitimate sellers.
  • Requires reporting of BOTS Act violations from ticketing companies to the FTC and requires the FBI to share ticketing violations with them. 

My Bill is Cosponsored by:

  • Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
  • Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS)
  • Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
  • Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)
  • Senator Peter Welch (D-VT)

My Bill is Endorsed by:

  • Fix the Tix Coalition
  • National Independent Venue Association
  • Seattle Theatre Group
  • Recording Academy
  • Recording Industry Association of America
  • National Independent Talent Organization
  • Eventbrite
  • Performing Arts Alliance
  • North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents
  • International Association of Venue Managers
  • Songwriters of North America
  • Americans for the Arts
  • Americans for the Arts Action Fund
  • Future of Music Coalition
  • Artists Rights Alliance
  • Music Managers Forum
  • Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
  • Association of Performing Arts Professionals.