Getty
The San Francisco Giants have become the third Major League Baseball franchise to be sued over alleged “junk fees,” as scrutiny intensifies around how teams advertise and sell tickets to fans.
According to special reporting from Front Office Sports, a proposed class-action lawsuit filed in California federal court accuses the Giants of misleading consumers by advertising ticket prices that excluded mandatory fees until the final checkout screen. The lawsuit claims the team collected millions of dollars through these fees over several years and never refunded fans after ending the practice.
The complaint alleges the Giants advertised ticket prices that failed to reflect the true cost of attending games, revealing only added “convenience” and “processing” fees after fans had already invested time and effort in completing their purchase. The suit says the practice affected hundreds of thousands of consumers.
How a $10 Ticket Turned Into a 45% Price Increase
The lawsuit centers on named plaintiff Juan Flores, who bought two tickets to a March 2024 game between the Giants and Padres. The Giants advertised the tickets at $10 each. At checkout, additional fees raised the total cost to $29—a 45% increase over the advertised price.
The filing also highlights a countdown timer that appeared during checkout, which allegedly pressured Flores to complete the purchase quickly. Flores claims that if he had known about the added fees earlier in the process, he would have chosen different seats or purchased tickets from another seller offering a lower total price.
Although the Giants stopped charging the disputed fees by July 2024 after California enacted a law banning junk fees, the lawsuit claims the organization never returned money collected before the change. Plaintiffs are asking the court to order the Giants to repay all unlawfully charged fees, though the filing does not specify a dollar amount.
Why the Giants Join a Growing MLB Legal Trend
The Giants now join two other MLB franchises facing similar legal challenges. In January, the Boston Red Sox faced a proposed class action in Massachusetts federal court over alleged false advertising related to ticket fees. That lawsuit claims the Red Sox charged a $7 order fee that exceeded the actual cost of processing electronic ticket purchases. A Red Sox spokesperson told Front Office Sports that the organization complies with all applicable laws but declined to provide further comment.
The Washington Nationals also remain locked in litigation after a lawsuit filed in September accused the team of charging junk fees for years and misleading fans about ticket prices.
Beyond baseball, junk fees have drawn national attention across the live-event industry. Public backlash over ticket pricing during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour helped prompt federal scrutiny. In December 2024, the Federal Trade Commission finalized a rule banning junk fees in live-event ticketing and hotel pricing.
Alex Jacquez, chief of policy and advocacy at the Groundwork Collaborative, told Front Office Sports that lawsuits alone will not stop the practice. He said enforcement will determine whether companies change their behavior.
Representatives for the Giants did not respond to requests for comment. As more lawsuits surface, MLB teams may soon face stronger financial and regulatory pressure to ensure ticket prices reflect what fans actually pay.
Alvin Garcia Born in Puerto Rico, Alvin Garcia is a sports writer for Heavy.com who focuses on MLB. His work has appeared on FanSided, LWOS, NewsBreak, Athlon Sports, and Yardbarker, covering mostly baseball. More about Alvin Garcia
More Heavy on SF Giants
Loading more stories