HOTDOG Act in plain language
1: Short title
This section would give the Act the short title "Honest Oversight of Ticketed Dining and Onsite Grub Act" or the "HOTDOG Act."
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1. Short title This Act may cited as the Honest Oversight of Ticketed Dining and Onsite Grub Act or the HOTDOG Act .
2: Findings
This section would record Congress's findings on concession pricing at sports and entertainment venues. Many sports venues receive significant public investment through direct grants, state and local tax credits, economic development incentives, and tax-exempt bonds. As of 2025, concession costs at major sporting events and concerts are unaffordable for the average American family. At Madison Square Garden, the average beer price is $16, more than twice the New York City average and the third highest among NBA arenas. At Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, beer averages $10, double what fans would pay at a nearby bar across the street. Fans at concerts and games across the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB face high concession prices on top of already high ticket costs. "Street pricing," which aligns in-venue concession prices with prices for comparable items in the surrounding community, has been adopted by some venues and has produced benefits for both businesses and consumers. Fans and travelers attending events at venues supported by their tax dollars deserve clear, transparent, and fair pricing of food and beverage concessions.
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2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Many sports venues receive significant public investments through direct grants, State and local tax credits, economic development incentives, and tax-exempt bonds. (2) In 2025, the cost of concessions at major sporting events and concerts are unaffordable for the average American family. (3) At Madison Square Garden, the average price of a beer is $16, more than twice the average in New York City, making it the third most expensive among NBA arenas. (4) At Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, beer costs $10 on average, which is double the price fans would pay at a nearby bar across the street. (5) Fans across music concerts and professional sports, including the National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, and Major League Baseball, face exorbitant concession prices in addition to already high-ticket costs. (6) Street pricing, a model that aligns concession pricing inside a venue with prices for comparable items in surrounding communities, has been adopted by certain venues to make concessions more affordable, producing benefits for both businesses and consumers. (7) Fans and travelers attending events at venues supported by their tax dollars deserve clear, transparent, and fair pricing of food and beverage concessions.
3: Study on concession pricing practices
This section would require the Federal Trade Commission, not later than 90 days after the Act is enacted, to study concession pricing practices at a nationwide sample of covered venues. The study would have to cover: the prices of food and drink items sold at those venues; how those prices compare to prices for the same or similar items sold by surrounding businesses, including bars and restaurants; the venues' pricing practices, including any use of dynamic pricing, service fees, and promotions such as value deals; the extent to which venues disclose food and drink prices before purchase, including by listing prices online and disclosing them at the point of entry; and consumer-friendly pricing policies that balance affordable food and drink access against the cost of running the venue, including price caps and reduced-price menu options. Not later than 1 year after enactment, the Commission would have to submit a report to Congress containing the results of the study and recommendations for legislative, regulatory, and industry action to improve the affordability and transparency of concession pricing. For purposes of this section, "Commission" means the Federal Trade Commission. A "covered venue" is a stadium or arena that meets all four of the following conditions: it is used for a professional sports exhibition or game, a music concert, or another comparable event (as determined by the Commission) for at least 5 days a year; it was constructed or operated using public subsidy funds, including a direct grant, a state or local tax credit, an economic development incentive, or a tax-exempt bond; it requires ticketed entry for consumers; and it offers food and drink items for sale to consumers. "State" means each state of the United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.
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3. Study on concession pricing practices (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall conduct a study with respect to concession pricing practices at a nationwide sample of covered venues that includes information relating to the following: (1) The price of food and drink items offered for sale by such venues. (2) A comparison between such prices and the price of the same or similar food and drink items offered for sale by the communities surrounding such venues, including bars and restaurants. (3) Pricing practices at such venues, including the use of any of the following by such venues: (A) Dynamic pricing. (B) Service fees. (C) Promotions such as value deals. (4) The extent to which such venues disclose the price of food and drink items offered for sale by such venues prior to purchase, including by listing such prices online and disclosing such prices at the point of entry of such venues. (5) Consumer-friendly pricing policies that balance consumer access to affordable food and drink items with the cost of venue operations, including price caps on the price of such food and drink items and menu options for such food and drink items offered at a reduced price. (b) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report that includes information relating to the following: (1) The results of the study conducted under subsection (a). (2) Recommendations for legislative, regulatory, and industry action with respect to improving affordability and transparency with respect to concession pricing practices. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Commission The term Commission means the Federal Trade Commission. (2) Covered venue The term covered venue means a stadium or arena that— (A) is used for a professional sports exhibition or game, a music concert, or any other comparable event (as determined by the Commission) for at least 5 days per year; (B) was constructed or operated with funds from a public subsidy, including funds from a direct grant, a State or local tax credit, an economic development incentive, or a tax-exempt bond; (C) requires ticketed entry for consumers; and (D) offers food and drink items for sale to such consumers. (3) State The term State means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.