Several self-described Boston Red Sox fans filed a class action lawsuit earlier this month against the team and the Fenway Sports Group, alleging that they falsely advertised ticket prices for baseball games and other ballpark events.Damon Campagna, Lily Rose Smith and Patrick Spaulding claim the Red Sox used drip pricing and junk fees to “bait-and-switch” customers to pay higher ticket prices, which is illegal under the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act.”The Red Sox would advertise illusorily low prices for their tickets,” the lawsuit stated. “When purchasers attempted to buy those tickets, however, the Red Sox would add mandatory fees at the last minute, such as ‘Per-Ticket Fees’ and ‘Order Fees,’ that could increase the cost of a purchase by as much as 150%.”Drip pricing is when a company discloses only a portion of a product or service’s true price initially and then reveals the rest (“dripping” out) later in the purchase process, after the buyer has already expended time and effort selecting the product or service.Junk fees refer to items presented as fees in connection with a purchase that do not have independent value or that the buyer wouldn’t voluntarily select if given the choice.According to the lawsuit, the Red Sox didn’t offer any explanation within their sales flow or on their website about the purpose of the fees.All three plaintiffs allege the Red Sox slapped junk fees on their ticket purchases for games at Fenway Park in 2022 and 2023. “It does not cost the Red Sox more to issue a ticket to a game against the Yankees than to a game against the Brewers, yet the Red Sox charged different ‘Per-Ticket Fees’ depending on that factor (and others),” the lawsuit stated.The plaintiffs allege the deceptive fees robbed customers of millions of dollars over the course of just one season.The plaintiffs seek damages, including prejudgment interest and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, according to the lawsuit.In a statement, a spokesperson for the Red Sox said, “While we don’t comment on pending litigation, we have always complied with applicable state and federal laws.”

BOSTON —

Several self-described Boston Red Sox fans filed a class action lawsuit earlier this month against the team and the Fenway Sports Group, alleging that they falsely advertised ticket prices for baseball games and other ballpark events.

Damon Campagna, Lily Rose Smith and Patrick Spaulding claim the Red Sox used drip pricing and junk fees to “bait-and-switch” customers to pay higher ticket prices, which is illegal under the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act.

“The Red Sox would advertise illusorily low prices for their tickets,” the lawsuit stated. “When purchasers attempted to buy those tickets, however, the Red Sox would add mandatory fees at the last minute, such as ‘Per-Ticket Fees’ and ‘Order Fees,’ that could increase the cost of a purchase by as much as 150%.”

Drip pricing is when a company discloses only a portion of a product or service’s true price initially and then reveals the rest (“dripping” out) later in the purchase process, after the buyer has already expended time and effort selecting the product or service.

Junk fees refer to items presented as fees in connection with a purchase that do not have independent value or that the buyer wouldn’t voluntarily select if given the choice.

According to the lawsuit, the Red Sox didn’t offer any explanation within their sales flow or on their website about the purpose of the fees.

All three plaintiffs allege the Red Sox slapped junk fees on their ticket purchases for games at Fenway Park in 2022 and 2023.

“It does not cost the Red Sox more to issue a ticket to a game against the Yankees than to a game against the Brewers, yet the Red Sox charged different ‘Per-Ticket Fees’ depending on that factor (and others),” the lawsuit stated.

The plaintiffs allege the deceptive fees robbed customers of millions of dollars over the course of just one season.

The plaintiffs seek damages, including prejudgment interest and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, according to the lawsuit.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Red Sox said, “While we don’t comment on pending litigation, we have always complied with applicable state and federal laws.”