If you’ve ever gone to buy concert tickets only to find them sold out in seconds—then reappearing online at triple the price—you’re not alone. A new bill in California aims to put an end to that frustration.
On Thursday, Assemblymember Matt Haney (D–San Francisco) introduced AB 1720, also known as the California Fans First Act, a proposal designed to limit how much tickets for live events can be resold for.
“For decades, concert tickets were sold at face value to real fans who wanted to see the artists they loved,” Haney said. “But today, professional scalpers and bots buy up tickets in seconds and resell them at massive markups.”
What the bill would do
If passed, AB 1720 would cap resale prices at no more than 10% above face value. The rule would apply to:
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Concerts
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Comedy shows
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Theatrical performances
However, sporting events would be excluded from the cap.
According to data cited by Haney’s office, many fans are currently paying more than double the original ticket price on secondary resale sites, with some tickets climbing several times above face value.
Why it matters
Haney says the issue goes beyond individual frustration—it’s hurting local music scenes and downtown businesses.
“California is the heart of the music industry, and we have a duty to stand with fans, artists and venues, not speculators and scalpers,” he said.
As chair of the Committee on Downtown Recovery, Haney pointed out that when fans overpay for one event, they often can’t afford to attend others. That means fewer people at independent venues, less nightlife activity, and less money flowing to small businesses.
Fans can still resell—within limits
The bill isn’t meant to block legitimate resale. If someone can’t attend an event, they could still sell their ticket—but only at a modest, regulated increase of up to 10%.
The goal, Haney says, is simple: keep tickets in the hands of real fans, not bots and scalpers.
If AB 1720 passes, California could become one of the strongest states in the country when it comes to protecting fans from ticket price gouging.
Frank
Image Cedit: Dave & Busters
