go2.fan glossary

Buying tickets, getting through the gates and traveling to a game, concert or convention all come with their own vocabulary. This glossary explains the terms fans run into most, from the FTC's all-in pricing rule and the BOTS Act to clear bag policies, ADA seating and the TSA's 3-1-1 rule. Where an official definition exists, the entry follows it, but venue policies and state laws vary, so always check the rules for your event.

Accessible seat: Under ADA rules, a space specifically designed for wheelchairs, with features such as an accessible approach, clear floor space and larger dimensions. Venues cannot charge more for accessible seats than for other seats in the same section, and cannot require proof of disability to buy them.; Related:Wheelchair space Companion seat Designated aisle seat
ADA Title III: The part of the Americans with Disabilities Act that covers public accommodations and commercial facilities, which includes privately run stadiums, arenas, theaters and convention centers. Its rules address accessible seating, ticket sales, service animals and mobility devices; state and local government venues are covered by Title II, which has identical ticketing rules.; Related:Accessible seat Service animal Companion seat
All-in pricing: Showing the full price of a ticket up front instead of revealing mandatory fees at checkout. Under the FTC's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, effective May 12, 2025, businesses that advertise prices for live-event tickets or short-term lodging must clearly disclose the total price, and show it more prominently than other pricing information.; Related:Total price Junk fees (hidden fees)Drip pricing
Assistive listening system: An amplification system that sends sound directly to a listener's receiver or hearing aid, using induction loop, radio frequency, infrared or direct-wired equipment. The 2010 ADA Standards require one in assembly areas where audible communication is integral to the space, with limited exceptions.; Related:ADA Title III
BOTS Act: The Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016, a federal law signed December 14, 2016. It makes it unlawful to get around a ticket issuer's security measures or access controls used to enforce posted purchase limits or ticket-buying order rules, and to sell tickets obtained that way when the seller took part or knew or should have known. The FTC and state attorneys general can enforce it.; Related:Ticket bot Ticket broker Online queue (virtual waiting room)
Canceled vs. postponed event: A canceled event will not happen; a postponed or rescheduled event moves to a new date, and tickets are often honored for it. Whether you get a refund, and how, depends on the seller's terms and any state law that applies, so read the refund policy before you buy.; Related:Ticket insurance (ticket protection)Fair Credit Billing Act
Chargeback: The reversal of a card payment by your card issuer after you dispute the charge, for example when tickets never arrive. Credit card purchases come with federal billing-dispute rights under the Fair Credit Billing Act, which harder-to-reverse payment methods may not offer.; Related:Fair Credit Billing Act Risky payment methods
Clear bag policy: A venue security rule that allows only see-through bags of a limited size, plus a small non-clear bag. For example, as of October 2026 the NFL's league-wide policy allows a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag, plus a small bag up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Sizes, exceptions and enforcement vary by venue and event, so check the venue's own page.; Related:Prohibited items list
Companion seat: A seat next to an accessible seat for a person attending with a wheelchair user. Under DOJ's ADA ticketing rules, someone buying a ticket for an accessible seat may buy up to three additional seats for companions in the same row, contiguous with the accessible seat.; Related:Accessible seat ADA Title III
Convention badge: The pass, often a printed card or wristband, that admits you to a fan convention or expo for the days you paid for. Badges are commonly scanned at entry and many events treat them as non-transferable, so check the event's own rules before buying or selling one.; Related:Prop weapon policy Ticket transfer
Copycat website: A fake site built to look like an official ticket seller, venue or government agency, often reached through paid search results or social media ads. The FTC warns these sites may sell fake tickets or the same seat to many people, so type the official address yourself or navigate from the venue's own site.; Related:Phishing Risky payment methods
Decibel (dB, dBA): The unit used to measure how loud a sound is. Decibels are logarithmic: NIOSH notes that a sound 10 dB louder than another is ten times more intense. NIOSH describes A-weighted decibels (dBA) as a scale for measuring noise, and its noise limits are stated in dBA.; Related:Recommended exposure limit (REL)Exchange rate (noise)
Designated aisle seat: An aisle seat with a retractable or removable armrest that some people with disabilities can use to transfer more easily. The ADA ticketing requirements for accessible seats do not cover these seats, so ask the venue how to request one.; Related:Accessible seat
Drip pricing: Advertising a low base price and then adding mandatory fees step by step as you move through checkout. For live-event tickets and short-term lodging, the FTC fees rule requires the total price to be shown whenever a price is advertised.; Related:All-in pricing Junk fees (hidden fees)Total price
Dynamic pricing: A pricing approach in which the seller changes ticket prices based on demand, timing or remaining inventory, so the same seat may cost different amounts on different days. It is a pricing method, not a scam, but it means the price you see may change between visits.; Related:Face value All-in pricing
Emotional support animal: An animal whose role is comfort or companionship rather than trained tasks. Under the ADA, dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals, though some state and local laws define service animal more broadly, so venue access depends on local law and venue policy.; Related:Service animal
Exchange rate (noise): How quickly recommended exposure time shrinks as noise gets louder. NIOSH uses a 3 dB exchange rate: for each 3 dBA increase in noise level, it recommends cutting the exposure time in half.; Related:Recommended exposure limit (REL)Decibel (dB, dBA)
Face value: The original price of a ticket set by the primary seller, usually not counting fees. Resale prices are often compared to it, and the fees added at checkout are separate from it.; Related:Primary market Scalping Dynamic pricing
Fair Credit Billing Act: A federal law that lets you dispute billing errors on a credit card, including charges for things you didn't accept or that weren't delivered as agreed. Per the FTC, your written dispute should reach the card issuer within 60 days after the first bill with the error was sent to you.; Related:Chargeback Risky payment methods
Heat index: A measure from the National Weather Service of how hot it feels when humidity is combined with air temperature. It is calculated for shady, light-wind conditions, and the NWS notes that full sunshine can raise heat index values by up to 15°F, which matters at outdoor games and festivals.; Related:Prohibited items list
If You See Something, Say Something: A national public-awareness campaign run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about recognizing and reporting suspicious activity. DHS says to notify local law enforcement, not DHS, and to call 911 in an emergency; at a venue, staff and security can also help.; Related:Prohibited items list
Junk fees (hidden fees): An informal name for mandatory charges that are hidden, disclosed late or misrepresented, such as a service fee that only appears at checkout. The FTC fees rule bans hiding the total price and misrepresenting a fee's nature, purpose, amount or refundability for live-event tickets and short-term lodging.; Related:All-in pricing Drip pricing
Mobile ticket: A ticket delivered to and scanned from a phone, usually through the seller's or venue's app or account. Many events now deliver tickets this way. In its 2026 World Cup alert, the FTC noted that because most tickets would be delivered electronically through the official app, someone selling paper tickets or a screenshot was likely a scammer, so find out how your event delivers tickets before you buy.; Related:Ticket transfer Copycat website
Noise Reduction Rating (NRR): A number, in decibels, that federal EPA labeling rules require on hearing protector packaging. NIOSH cautions that the labeled NRR often does not reflect the actual protection a person gets, which depends heavily on fit.; Related:Noise-induced hearing loss Decibel (dB, dBA)
Noise-induced hearing loss: Hearing loss caused by a single very loud sound or by repeated exposure to loud sounds over time. The CDC lists attending a concert and cheering at a sports game among noisy exposures and advises using hearing protection when you can't avoid loud noise; anyone concerned about their hearing should talk to a doctor.; Related:Noise Reduction Rating (NRR)Recommended exposure limit (REL)
Online queue (virtual waiting room): A system that holds buyers in a line when a sale opens and lets them into the purchase page in batches. A queue can be one of the controls a ticket issuer uses to keep its posted purchase order rules fair, and using software to get around them is the kind of conduct the BOTS Act covers.; Related:Presale Ticket bot BOTS Act
Optional add-on: An extra you choose to buy in the same transaction, such as parking or a souvenir bundle. The FTC fees rule lets sellers leave truly optional add-ons out of the advertised total price, but not charges you have to pay to get the ticket.; Related:Total price Ticket insurance (ticket protection)
Other power-driven mobility device (OPDMD): The ADA term for less traditional mobility devices, such as golf cars or two-wheeled self-balancing devices, used by people with mobility disabilities. Venues assess which types they can accommodate and may ask for credible assurance that the device is used because of a disability; a valid state-issued disability parking placard or card must be accepted.; Related:ADA Title III Accessible seat
Phishing: A scam in which, in the FTC's words, "Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal and financial information." Fake ticket confirmations, account alerts and "you won a presale" messages are common lures.; Related:Copycat website ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Presale: A sale that opens before tickets go on sale to the general public, often for fan-club members, newsletter subscribers or certain cardholders. The FTC suggests signing up for alerts from artists, venues and sellers so you hear about these chances early.; Related:Primary market Online queue (virtual waiting room)
Primary market: The first sale of tickets, by or for the event's organizer, venue, team or artist. The primary seller sets the original price and the ticket terms, including whether tickets can be transferred or resold.; Related:Secondary market Face value Presale
Prohibited items list: The list of things a venue will not let through security, often including outside food and drink, large bags, umbrellas, professional cameras, noisemakers and weapons. Lists differ by venue and sometimes by event, so check the official venue page close to the date.; Related:Clear bag policy Prop weapon policy
Prompt refund (airline): DOT's standard for how fast airlines must refund when you are owed one, such as after a cancellation or significant change you don't accept: within 7 business days for credit card purchases and within 20 calendar days for other payment methods.; Related:Significantly delayed or changed flight Travel credit (voucher)
Prop weapon policy: A convention rule about costume props such as replica swords, blasters or staffs, often covering size, materials and whether props must be inspected or tagged at entry. Real weapons are typically banned outright, and rules differ by event and venue.; Related:Convention badge Prohibited items list
REAL ID: A federal standard for state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards. Since enforcement began on May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers need a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable ID, such as a passport, to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities. Travelers without acceptable ID may pay a $45 TSA ConfirmID fee for an identity check, which TSA says is not guaranteed to succeed.; Related:TSA 3-1-1 rule TSA PreCheck
Recommended exposure limit (REL): NIOSH's recommended limit for workplace noise: 85 dBA averaged over an eight-hour workday. It is a workplace guideline, not a rule for fans, but it gives a useful sense of scale, since NIOSH considers noise hazardous at 85 dBA or higher.; Related:Decibel (dB, dBA)Exchange rate (noise)Noise-induced hearing loss
ReportFraud.ftc.gov: The Federal Trade Commission's site for reporting scams and bad business practices, including fake tickets and ticket brokers you think are breaking the rules. For an emergency in person, call 911 instead.; Related:Phishing BOTS Act
Resort fee: A mandatory nightly charge some hotels and rentals add on top of the room rate. Under the FTC fees rule, short-term lodging is covered, so a required resort fee must be included in the advertised total price rather than revealed later.; Related:All-in pricing Total price
Risky payment methods: Ways of paying that are hard to reverse, which scammers prefer. The FTC advises never paying someone who insists you can only pay with cryptocurrency, a wire transfer service, a payment app or a gift card.; Related:Fair Credit Billing Act Chargeback Copycat website
Scalping: A common term for reselling tickets above face value, especially in bulk or outside the venue. Whether that is restricted depends on state and local law and on the ticket's own terms, so it varies by location and event.; Related:Secondary market Face value Ticket broker
Secondary market: Any resale of tickets after the first sale, whether between fans or through resale businesses and marketplaces. Prices can be above or below face value, and buyer protections depend on the reseller's own policies, so check how and when you will get your tickets and what happens if something goes wrong.; Related:Primary market Ticket broker Speculative ticket
Service animal: Under the ADA, a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability, such as guiding someone who is blind or alerting someone who is deaf. Venue staff may ask only two questions: whether the dog is required because of a disability and what work or task it has been trained to perform. Separate ADA rules cover trained miniature horses.; Related:Emotional support animal ADA Title III
Significantly delayed or changed flight: A DOT term for airline changes that can entitle you to a full refund if you choose not to fly the changed flight or accept rebooking or a voucher. It includes departing three or more hours early or arriving three or more hours late on domestic itineraries (six or more on international ones), a different departure or arrival airport, more connections, or a downgrade to a lower class of service.; Related:Prompt refund (airline)Travel credit (voucher)
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): A State Department program for U.S. travelers going abroad. Enrolling lets you get updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate and helps it contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency.; Related:Travel advisory
Speculative ticket: A resale listing for a ticket the seller does not yet have, with the plan to buy one later and deliver it before the event. The buyer is relying on the seller to obtain the ticket in time, and rules on these listings vary by state and by resale platform, so check whether a listing is for a ticket the seller already holds.; Related:Secondary market Ticket broker
Ticket bot: Software that automates ticket buying, often to grab tickets faster than people can or to get around purchase limits with fake names or many accounts. Using bots or other tricks to circumvent a ticket issuer's security measures is what the BOTS Act targets.; Related:BOTS Act Online queue (virtual waiting room)Presale
Ticket broker: A business that buys tickets and resells them, usually at a markup. The FTC has brought cases against brokers that hid IP addresses or used fake accounts to break online ticket purchasing rules.; Related:Secondary market BOTS Act Scalping
Ticket insurance (ticket protection): An optional add-on, sold at checkout, that may refund your ticket if you can't attend for reasons listed in the policy, such as illness or travel delays. Coverage, exclusions and claim rules differ by policy, so read them before paying for it.; Related:Optional add-on Canceled vs. postponed event
Ticket transfer: Sending a ticket to another person through the seller's official system, which reassigns it to the new holder's account. Whether transfers are allowed is set by the ticket terms, and under ADA rules, if a venue lets patrons give or sell tickets, people holding tickets for accessible seats must have the same right.; Related:Mobile ticket Accessible seat Secondary market
Total price: In the FTC fees rule, the maximum total of all fees or charges a consumer must pay, including any mandatory add-ons. Only government charges, shipping charges and optional extras you choose to add may be left out, and those must still be disclosed before you pay.; Related:All-in pricing Optional add-on Resort fee
Travel advisory: The U.S. State Department's country-by-country safety guidance for U.S. travelers, rated on four levels: Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions; Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Level 3, Reconsider Travel; and Level 4, Do Not Travel. Check the current advisory before booking travel to an event abroad.; Related:Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
Travel credit (voucher): A credit or voucher toward future travel offered instead of cash. Under DOT refund rules, an airline may offer one as an alternative to a required refund only if it clearly tells you the terms and your right to a full refund.; Related:Prompt refund (airline)Significantly delayed or changed flight
TSA 3-1-1 rule: The TSA's carry-on rule for liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes: containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item, packed in a quart-sized bag. Medications are among the exemptions TSA lists.; Related:REAL ID TSA PreCheck
TSA PreCheck: A TSA trusted-traveler program that gives approved travelers dedicated screening lanes across the U.S. In PreCheck lanes, travelers can generally leave electronics and 3-1-1 liquids in their bags and keep on belts, light jackets and shoes.; Related:TSA 3-1-1 rule REAL ID
Wheelchair space: The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design define it as "Space for a single wheelchair and its occupant." It is the core of an accessible seating location at a venue.; Related:Accessible seat ADA Title III