New Colorado Law Enhances Consumer Protections in Event Ticketing Industry

Today marks the implementation of a new law in Colorado aimed at enhancing consumer protections in event ticket sales.

“Colorado is home to many great live music venues and multiple professional sports teams, and this consumer protection law will help prevent Coloradans from being taken advantage of by bad actors,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield, sponsor of HB24-1378. “This law guarantees refunds for canceled events, ensures actual all-in prices are advertised, and bans deceptive website sales to clarify consumer rights and protections in the ticket industry. We’re creating a Colorado that better serves consumers so they can fully enjoy their favorite events, from Nuggets games to Taylor Swift concerts.”

According to a statement, HB24-1378, also sponsored by Senator Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, mandates ticket sellers and resellers to guarantee refunds to ticket buyers and prohibits operators from denying entry to ticket holders who purchased their tickets through a reseller.

“For too long, bad actors have made the ticket purchasing process overly complicated and difficult to navigate,” said Senator Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, sponsor of HB24-1378. “This year, I was proud to champion the effort to bring greater transparency to the ticket buying process and improve the experience for Colorado consumers. This new law will help Coloradans attend the concerts and sporting events they love with more ease and peace of mind.”

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“Unfortunately, most Coloradans have had negative experiences with the ticket industry that make it more difficult for them to attend concerts and professional sports games,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, co-sponsor of the bill. “As a resident of downtown Denver, I know how important our local sports teams and big concert events are to local businesses. Our legislation will bolster protections for consumers, making ticket-buying a more secure process so Coloradans can feel better about their purchases.”

Per the statement, the new law expands what constitutes a deceptive trade practice, including:

• Displaying trademarked, copyrighted, or substantially similar web designs, URLs, or other images and symbols with the intent to mislead a purchaser,
• Selling a ticket to an event without disclosing the total cost of the ticket, or
• Increasing the price of a ticket after the ticket has been selected for purchase, except for adding delivery fees.

Source: Co House Dems