A local representative provides testimony on a house bill that would regulate the sale of tickets to entertainment events.
The Technology and Innovation Committee met on Tuesday, and several proponents spoke on the third hearing of HB 563.
Among them was Tuscarawas Arts Partnership Executive Director Wilma Mullet, who spoke about how fraudulent third-party ticketing sites creates a large impact in bigger cities and in small communities.
She says Tuscarawas County has organizations like the Little Theatre, the Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas, and Ohio Star Theatre, who have all dealt with negative effect caused by third-party sites.
“Last December, the Little Theatre of Tuscarawas County produced its holiday musical “Annie,” tickets for adults were $20 and $15 for children. However, third-party ticketing sites such as StubHub appeared in search results, and advertising tickets for as much as $400. At Ohio Star Theatre, a visitor purchased four tickets through a third-party site at $119 per ticket plus taxes plus a $40 handling fee. Had those tickets been purchased directly, they would have cost $39 each. Not only was the patron overcharged, but the tickets were issued without correct contact information or a valid order number, creating confusion and additional work for the theatre staff.”
She says the PAC has actively posted to social media warning patrons to purchase tickets through official channels and not other sites.
“Despite this, third-party sites have listed tickets for as high as $400 for events where standard pricing is under $70. Some of these sites go as far as copying venue logos, mimicking website layouts, and using urgency tactics like “tickets selling fast” or “trusted site”.
Overall, she says this type of fraudulent activity is harming the ticket purchaser because they believe live entertainment is not affordable. It’s also hurtful to the venues.
“Arts organizations lose revenue that directly supports programming, staffing, and operations, while venues are forced to divert limited resources toward search engine optimization just to compete with misleading platforms. Perhaps most damaging, patrons associate these negative experiences with the venues themselves, eroding trust and long-term audience engagement.”
Mullet encouraged the committee to approve HB 563 as it offers a meaningful step toward addressing this issue.
“By increasing transparency, limiting deceptive practices, and holding third-party sellers accountable, this legislation helps ensure that consumers know exactly what they are purchasing and who they are purchasing from. It protects Ohioans from misleading pricing and high-pressure sales tactics.”
The legislation remains under consideration.
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