FTC Mandates Upfront Ticket Pricing in New Rule Aimed at Transparency

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a new rule requiring ticket sellers to display total prices — including all mandatory fees — upfront, a move experts say increases transparency but is unlikely to reduce overall costs for consumers.

Announced this week, the rule applies to companies selling live-event tickets and short-term lodging. Businesses must now show the full price before customers reach the checkout stage, disclosing all known and calculable charges. Vague terms such as “convenience fees” or “service fees” must be clearly explained, according to the FTC.

People in a concert | Source: Pexels

“More transparency is always a win for consumers,” said Andrew Mall, associate professor of music at Northeastern University. However, he cautioned, “if there are any consumers who have been expecting fewer fees as a result, they will be disappointed.”

The rule, part of a broader push by the Biden administration to target so-called “junk fees,” stops short of regulating how much companies can charge. “This is not about capping fees or saying what fees companies can or cannot charge,” said Teresa Murray, director of the consumer watchdog office at U.S. PIRG. “It’s about transparency and making things fair.”

Ticket prices have surged in recent years, fueled by post-pandemic demand, “dynamic pricing” based on real-time demand, and add-on fees. These pricing practices remain legal under the new rule.

People raising their hands in a concert | Source: Pexels

Consumers may begin to see immediate effects. Ticketmaster and SeatGeek both announced on May 12 that they have adopted all-in pricing across their platforms in accordance with the new regulation. “Fans deserve pricing that’s clear from the start,” said Jack Groetzinger, SeatGeek co-founder and CEO.