In the state of Connecticut, ticket resale is generally allowed, with certain exceptions. Those exceptions come by way of specific restrictions on resale within a certain number of feet from the venue.

Note: Information on this page is subject to change. It is provided for informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice.

Connecticut Ticket Resale Law Specifics

A reseller of a ticket is prohibited by law from selling that ticket within 1,500 feet of a venue on day of the event unless the owner or operator of the venue allows it in writing. Despite the restriction, there are exceptions. The restriction does not apply to a ticket reseller who: (1) resells a ticket for no more than face value, or (2) has a permanent office within 1,500 feet of the structure. Violation of the statute is a Class A misdemeanor [C.G.S.A. §53-289c].

Additionally, any person who resells a ticket to an entertainment event, including but not limited to a sporting event, a concert, or a theatrical or an operatic performance that is cancelled, shall refund the purchaser of such ticket the full amount. The refund shall include all fees and delivery charges paid by the purchaser for such ticket if: (1) the event is cancelled, (2) the ticket received by the purchaser does not grant the purchaser admission to the event, or (3) the ticket fails to conform to its description as advertised by the ticket reseller. [C.G.S.A. §53a-141]

House Bill 7114 became Public Act 17-28 on May 30, 2017 and was signed by the governor on June 6, 2017. Public Act 17-28 went into effect on January 1, 2018, and contains the following provisions:

(1) a prohibition on an entertainment event ticketing sales system that fails to give the purchaser an option to purchase tickets that the purchaser may transfer to any party, at any price and at any time, without additional fees and without the consent of the person employing such ticketing system, with an exception carved out for a paperless ticketing system that does not allow for independent transferability of tickets, provided the purchaser of such tickets is offered the option, at the time of initial sale, to purchase the same tickets in another form that is transferrable, independent of such a ticketing sales system, including, but not limited to, paper tickets or e-tickets and without additional fees, regardless of the form or transferability of such tickets;

(2) a prohibition on denying admission to an entertainment event to a ticket holder who possesses a resold ticket to such entertainment event based solely on the grounds that such ticket has been resold;

(3) a mandate that a person employing an entertainment event ticketing sales system shall provide written secondary market disclosure information to potential ticket purchasers, if applicable, and;

(4) exceptions to these provisions for tickets sold or offered for sale to students of a public institution of higher education for entertainment events held by or on behalf of such institution, or concert or theater venues with seating capacities of not more than three thousand five hundred persons, but the venue must provide written notice to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection of such venue’s intent not to comply with the provisions of this section.

In addition, Senate Bill 826 became Public Act 17-77 on June 14, 2017 and was signed by the governor on June 27, 2017. Public Act 17-77 prohibits the use of automated ticket purchasing software (meaning a device, computer program or computer software that enables the automated purchase of tickets to entertainment events by bypassing or rendering inoperable security measures on an Internet web site offering the sale of tickets to entertainment events) to purchase tickets on an Internet web site.

Statute(s):

C.G.S.A. §53-289c
C.G.S.A. §53a-141
Special Act No. 15-12