For over three decades, our association has been the primary advocate for a fair, transparent, and open ticketing marketplace. In an industry increasingly bound by market manipulation of massive conglomerates, true consumer choice is now longer a luxury, but a non-negotiable necessity. With limited transparency from major sellers and risks of fraud threatening the integrity of the ticketing market, our organization continues to push for transparent market behaviors that put fans first. It’s in the DNA of our organization—it’s why we came together in the first place, and it’s been present with each new pioneering of fan-focused practices and standards.
We are the champions of the fan experience within the ticketing industry. Here’s how we got here.
Where It Started
In 1994, a group of independent ticket resellers recognized a critical flaw in the entertainment landscape: the secondary market lacked standards, accountability, and a unified voice. It became obvious that the industry needed an organization capable of establishing ethical practices and standards, holding bad actors accountable, and ensuring fans have a secure, reliable alternative to the primary box office monopoly.
Those pioneers came together to form the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB) with a clear mission: establish an industry-wide code of conduct, protect consumers, and defend the open market that keeps the ticketing ecosystem competitive, while giving the secondary market the credibility it deserved.
As NATB, we became pioneers in the ticketing space. We codified the professionalism of our members into strict, official ethical guidelines for the industry, rigorously promoted legislation and policies that protected fans, and consistently fought to preserve market fairness. It was work done under the microscope of an often-skeptical public, but forcing transparency onto an opaque industry was a battle we were proud to lead.
Building Trust, One Member at a Time
Over the following decades, we grew into the largest trade association of independent ticket resellers in the world. Today, we represent over 250 members who hold an unparalleled track record: a combined decades of experience handling over 4 million ticketed live events over the last thirty years. Since 2021 alone, our ticketing professionals have saved fans over $1.4 million in ticket sales across sporting events, theatre performances, and concerts.
Our members are vital players that ensures the market remains free. By providing robust, open-market alternatives, our members break the stranglehold of primary ticket sellers—a monopoly that recent antitrust proceedings in the United States v. Live Nation trial demonstrated controls over 86% of primary ticketing for major concert venues. To combat this strong hold, we have worked alongside policy enforcement, state and federal legislators, and major sports leagues to combat fraud. We created a dedicated platform for fans to report unethical conduct, and we partnered with the NFL and other leagues to protect the integrity of the entire ticketing ecosystem.
Most importantly, we introduced the 200% Fan Guarantee — a mandatory commitment from every NATB member that if something goes wrong, the fan is protected. This guarantee remains a cornerstone of what it means to be a ticketing professional and part of our association: a steadfast devotion to a positive, seamless fan experience, no matter the cost.
Evolving with the Industry
The secondary ticket market of 2026 looks vastly different than it did in 1994. Our members are no longer simply resellers. They are official ticketing partners for venues, teams, and touring acts around the world. They employ teams of professionals and serve millions of fans each year. They provide fans with tickets, backstage and sideline passes, lodging recommendations, and parking and transportation logistics needed to ensure they enjoy their experience from start to finish.
With all of this in mind, the name “ticket brokers” no longer captured what this industry — and this association — has become.
In May 2026, we rebranded as the National Association of Ticketing Professionals (NATP) — a name that reflects the evolution of our membership and sharpens our focus for the road ahead, while respecting the decades of achievement that came before.
Our core commitments honor three decades of work advocating for fairness and championing the consumer experience:
- Transferability — A ticket is personal property. Fans should be able to resell, gift, or transfer what they purchase.
- Transparency — All-in pricing and full disclosure of ticket holdbacks, so fans know exactly what they’re paying and why availability looks the way it does.
- Accessibility — A competitive marketplace with independent options, not a monopoly that leaves fans with nowhere to turn.
What Hasn’t Changed
More than thirty years in, our mission is the same one those original members committed to in 1994: protect consumers, uphold professional standards, and ensure that live events remain accessible to everyone.
The industry will keep evolving and so will we. But our members’ commitment to the fan — backed by our guarantee, our code of ethics, and our collective voice — is as strong as it has ever been.