Washington Takes On Super Bowl Seller

Washington received 24 complaints about the New-York based SBTickets for 60 tickets, bowlaccording to a statement from Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office.

The tickets were priced between $1,875 and $3,500 and were reportedly advertised to be “100% Guaranteed, no tricks or gimmicks.” SBTickets did not have the tickets in hand, however, and had hoped to fulfill orders by swooping up tickets later at a lower price, the statement said.

When prices soared in the leadup to the game, the company notified many Washington residents their orders would not be filled and offered them refunds. But the prices paid for tickets to the big game were just part of the equation, as many people had already shelled out thousands more on travel and lodging.

“For many people, a trip to the Super Bowl is a once-in-a-lifetime event,” Ferguson said. “Because of SBTickets’ deception about its ‘guaranteed’ tickets, people spent their savings on a trip only to wind up watching the game at restaurants and hotels nearby. I’m committed to protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices, and when companies like SBTickets mislead Washington residents, I will hold them accountable.”

Washington is seeking an order from the court for SBTickets to reimburse customers up to $2,000 each for travel and lodging costs and an injunction preventing the company from engaging in deceptive business practices in the future.