Ticketmaster, StubHub Must Show Full Prices Under New Rule

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The latest development in the concert ticket industry sees major ticket services like StubHub and Ticketmaster incorporating fees into their default prices in compliance with new federal regulations. This change, announced on Monday, aims to increase transparency for consumers.

While concert ticket fees will still exist, they will now be clearly visible upfront. Ticketmaster announced that moving forward, shoppers will see “all-in” pricing, which includes the service fee (excluding local taxes or delivery fees). A pop-up message on Ticketmaster event pages affirms this change, stating, “We’re all in.”

This shift comes in response to a new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule targeting hidden fees in live-event ticketing, as well as hotel and short-term rental lodging. The FTC aims to eliminate deceptive pricing practices where consumers are initially quoted one price, only to encounter additional charges during checkout.

Consumer advocates have long voiced concerns about hidden fees, which can significantly inflate the ticket cost by as much as 25% or more. Previously, many ticketing websites only revealed these fees at the checkout stage, leading to customer frustration.

Despite initial resistance from some ticket companies, the industry as a whole supports the move towards all-in pricing, ensuring a level playing field for all ticket providers.

FTC’s Rule on Junk Fees Targets Live Events and Lodging

The FTC’s ban on junk fees includes several key provisions:

Businesses must prominently display the total price over other pricing information.

Companies must disclose excluded charges before requesting payment.

Avoid ambiguous terms like “convenience fees,” “service fees,” and “processing fees.”

Several companies preemptively adjusted their pricing practices ahead of the rule change, which took effect on Monday. For instance, Airbnb now shows a price that includes cleaning and service fees by default.

StubHub, in response to a customer query on X, confirmed that they are actively updating their platforms to display the total price, including fees, in search results. Similarly, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats also announced their transition to all-inclusive pricing models.

TickPick had already been offering upfront pricing before checkout, and now with major ticket companies following suit, fans can easily compare ticket options across different platforms.

SeatGeek’s CEO, Jack Groetzinger, emphasized the importance of clear pricing for fans and expressed pride in aligning their platform with FTC guidelines.

While these changes mark a positive step towards price transparency, lawmakers like New York State Senator James Skoufis remain cautious. Senator Skoufis emphasized the need for complete fee disclosure to protect consumers from misleading pricing practices.