ESPN (03/11/21) Thompson, Tisha

Experts believe sports fans will benefit as venues return to full capacity after the pandemic. Many concur that April will be a crucial period, with International Ticketing Association (INTIX) President and CEO Maureen Andersen calling that month "a D-Day moment" for a lot of businesses. "They've got to have the possibility of fans in the stadium by April," Andersen says. Experts interviewed by ESPN or who spoke at the INTIX Live! 2021 Digital Conference expect fans to largely benefit from an evolving ticketing industry in the wake of the pandemic. Many say fans should not expect most sports ticket prices to spike, while more bundling offers for a smaller number of games are also likely. Another welcome change will be added flexibility on ticket refunds and exchanges, which Andersen said is a fan-driven trend. Cash and paper tickets are also expected to be phased out, with the virus having accelerated fan acceptance. Meanwhile, experts suspect that ticketing bots' days are numbered, especially with aggressive BOTS Act crackdowns underway with the Biden administration. Finally, major reseller marketplaces are not expected to hike fees to compensate for pandemic losses.

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