Buying a Sports Ticket - Are you accepting a contract?

Back of  Boston Red Sox Ticket

In today's blog I will be analyzing a little more of a unknown or uncommon way of accepting a contract. Buying a sports ticket or any event ticket that looks similar to the picture above is just one of many ways of accepting a contract. 

A brief overview of what it takes to enter into contractual relations:
1. Offer
2. Acceptance
3. Consideration
4. Intention to enter into legal relations

If all 4 of these conditions are satisfied than both parties have subsequently agreed to enter into a contract. Just to break down buying a ticket: An organization offers to sell a seat in their stadium through a ticket. The customer accepts this offer and their consideration would be the dollar amount of the ticket. The intention is the consumer buying the ticket and the organization's willingness to sell the ticket. Buying a sports ticket is 100% a contract. But what have you actually agreed to when buying these tickets?

It is something that people rarely ever turn around and read, but if one were to take a closer look you may see something similar to this: 

By use of this ticket, the ticket purchaser/holder ("Holder") agrees that: (a) he    or she shall not transmit or aid in transmitting any information about the game to which it grants admission, including, but not limited to, any account, description, picture, video, audio, reproduction or other information concerning the game (collectively "Game Information"); and the Allstate Sugar Bowl and each of its respective agents, shall have the unrestricted right and license to use his or her image, likeness, name, voice, comments or other proprietary or public rights and that of any minor accompanying ticket holder in any broadcast, telecast or photograph and/or video and/or audio sound recording taken in connection with the game or other transmission or reproduction in whole or in part of the game, for all purposes, without compensation. 

The holder voluntarily assumes all risks incident to the event, including the risk of lost, stolen or damaged property or personal injury. The Allstate Sugar Bowl may revoke this license and eject or refuse entry to the holder for violation of venue rules, illegal activity, misconduct or failure to comply with any and all security measures.  Gym bags, backpacks, oversized packages, cans, bottles, weapons, missiles, fireworks, contraband, video cameras, cameras with a detachable zoom lens, recording devices, laser pointers, artificial noisemakers and containers of any kind are prohibited on Superdome property. 

The holder voluntarily assumes all risk associated with the purchase of this ticket from anyone other than the Allstate Sugar Bowl or its designated agents. This ticket may not be used for advertising, promotion (including contests or sweepstakes), or other trade or commercial purposes without the express written consent of the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

NO REFUNDS, NO EXCHANGES, NO RE-ADMISSION.  EVENT, DATE & TIME SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

After reading the fine print you realize that you have accepted some very onerous terms. You have given up your image rights, your ability to take photos or film, accepted all risk that occurs within the game  and allowed "Allstate Sugar Bowl" to revoke or refuse your entry into the game. 

The Back of the Tickets are 100% contracts and should be read in full to fully understand what you are accepting when you think you are just going to watch a game. 

Thanks, 

G.M. 



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