Deirdre Cummings
Legislative Director, MASSPIRG
617-747-4319
[email protected]
Statement: Gov. Healy declines to protect ticket buyers, signs economic development bill as-is
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New law contains anti-consumer provisions, extends monopoly on live events
BOSTON – In a move that is bad for consumers, a provision tucked into the Economic Development bill signed today by Gov. Maura Healey will allow event ticket sellers to restrict the transferability of their tickets. Although MASSPIRG, the National Consumers League, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, and Sports Fans Coalition, sent a letter to Gov. Healey calling on her to strike the sections which would codify anti-consumer event ticket sales practices, the governor left the bill as-is.
Ticket transferability is a key consumer protection, and it is about more than just convenience; it gives consumers control of their ticket after purchase. With transferable tickets, fans are able to comparison shop across ticket brokers who may sell and resell tickets at a variety of price points. Without the right to transferability, ticket sellers restrict ticket resales to their own site, preventing ticket owners from taking advantage of a competitive marketplace.
In response to the bill signing, MASSPIRG’s Legislative and Consumer Programs Director Deirdre Cummings released the following statement:
“We are truly disappointed that Governor Healey chose not to stand up for ticket buyers and strike the anti-consumer language in the bill.
“When you buy concert, sports or other event tickets, you should be able to do whatever you want with them – including re-selling them or giving them to friends or family. Ticket sellers should have no right to prevent us from transferring our own tickets on our own terms. Requiring event tickets to be transferable is both a key consumer protection and common sense.
“The big winners here are the big ticket sellers, not the sports fans or concert goers.”