California Speculative Ticket Ban Faces New Opposition Following Last-Minute Changes to Legislation

AB 1349, California’s bill banning speculative ticket sales, passed the state Senate, but now longtime supporters of the motion are changing their tune. The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and its allies want Governor Gavin Newsom to veto the bill after last-minute changes to the language.

The details:

• The new language in the bill says that “ticket resale marketplaces,” which include major proprietors like StubHub, would not be liable for speculative ticket sales.

• Venues and festivals would still be liable.

• Broad terminology has presales listed as reselling, which opens more opportunities for venues and festivals to take flak for ticketing issues.

• Another change was no longer requiring secondary sellers to include specific seating information on tickets.

• Professional sports teams are now exempt from restrictions of the law.

• StubHub spearheaded multi-million dollar lobbying efforts to amend the bill.

Speculative tickets:

• A speculative ticket is when a seller has a ticket on sale that they don't physically own.

What they said:

• Stephen Parker, NIVA’s Executive Director: “AB 1349 could have been an opportunity to stop the sale of ghost tickets (tickets the person advertising and selling them do not possess) across the State of California, ensuring what happened during the World Cup and what happens every night at independent venues is illegal. Instead, AB 1349 abdicates multibillion-dollar resale platforms like StubHub from true accountability for selling ghost tickets. It puts the small businesses and nonprofits that put on shows every night at risk. And it endangers fans’ economic well-being. Late amendments were adopted to remove danger for billion-dollar sports teams while leaving artists, small businesses, and nonprofits exposed to unfathomable harm. This bill should not become law, and we call upon Governor Newsom to veto it.”