Sen. Eric Schmitt Introduces Ticket Transparency Bill Amid 123% Sports Admission Surge

Admissions for sporting events have surged 123% since 2000, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Fans now face steep base prices plus unpredictable fees for concessions, transport, and merchandise.

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., announced new legislation targeting opacity in ticket pricing. Speaking on OutKick’s 'Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich,' he cited Senate Commerce Committee jurisdiction over professional sports transactions-including Ticketmaster-and emphasized consumer transparency.

Singer Kid Rock testified before the Senate Commerce Committee in January, calling current ticketing a 'complete fiasco' and highlighting how price gouging pushes fans into costly resale markets. The FCC also launched a public comment process on live sports migration from broadcast to streaming-impacting NFL, NBA, and MLB access.