World Cup ticket failures exposed widespread resale problems. Learn how Ohio’s House Bill 563 aims to protect consumers from deceptive ticket practices.
A New Mexico family lost four of their nine World Cup tickets. A Texas family’s dream trip ended when their tickets fell through just hours before kickoff. A Massachusetts couple scrambled to find replacement seats after learning their tickets were no longer available. In Washington, a Tacoma mother was left without a valid ticket despite purchasing through a major resale platform.
Throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stories like these dominated headlines as thousands of fans reported canceled orders, invalid tickets and last-minute notifications that seats they believed they had purchased were unavailable. The widespread problems prompted a proposed class-action lawsuit against StubHub, investigations by state officials and renewed scrutiny of the secondary ticket marketplace.
While the World Cup brought unprecedented attention to the issue, deceptive ticket resale practices are not limited to major sporting events. The same marketplace serves concerts, theater performances and other live entertainment, affecting audiences, artists and venues alike.
That’s why CreativeOhio has spent more than two years advocating for House Bill 563, legislation to strengthen consumer protections in Ohio’s ticket resale marketplace. The bill would increase transparency and help combat deceptive resale practices that can leave consumers paying for tickets they never receive or discovering at the last minute that their seats are invalid.
In June, House Bill 563 passed the Ohio House with unanimous support and now awaits consideration in the Ohio Senate. Lawmakers have recessed for the summer, but the legislation is expected to receive consideration before the end of the General Assembly’s lame duck session.
The World Cup headlines serve as a timely reminder that fraudulent and predatory ticket reselling has become a pervasive problem for consumers and venues everywhere. Whether attending a championship match, a Broadway tour, a concert, or a performance by a local arts organization, Ohioans deserve confidence that the ticket they purchase is the ticket that gets them through the door.
CreativeOhio will continue working with legislators, member organizations and industry partners to advance ticketing reforms that protect consumers while supporting a fair and transparent resale marketplace for live entertainment across Ohio.
