Rules & Resources
Bylaws & Rules

Policy regarding Event Sales (Where sales of a newspaper are directly tied to event admission at activities such as sporting events, concerts, fairs, trade shows, swap meets, parking lots, etc.)

Definition of Event Sales:
Newspapers offered for sale in combination with admission fees to any activities of a social or communal nature. Sales bundled with parking fees may also qualify as "event sales" provided the parking fee is the only admission fee associated with the event. In those situations where there are separate parking fees and admission fees, the parking facility will not qualify as an "event." Newspapers included with goods or services will not qualify as event sales, but rather will be subjected to the policy governing such sales.

Examples of activities that may qualify as events:
(eliminated parking facilities)
Sporting events
Concerts
Fairs
Consumer and trade shows (car show, boat show, etc.)
Flea markets

Examples of activities that will not qualify as events:
Public parking
Public transportation (commuter trains, buses, planes, boats, etc.)
Toll roads

Events must be of a specific duration, no greater than 24 hours, and must require attendee passage through a limited access entrance(s). For events longer than 24-hour duration, such as a county fair, each day's admission constitutes a different event for audit purposes.

Pre-Qualification Procedures:

1. ABC must approve the event as a qualifying activity in advance.
2. ABC is to be notified 60 days prior to the commencement of any event as to the specific event sale programs the publisher intends to include in the ensuing Publisher's Statement.

Any event not identified in advance will be ineligible for inclusion in paid circulation. Notification to include:

a) Date and hours of the event(s)
b) Event admission price
c) Newspaper selling price
d) Examples of notification signs
e) General "floor plan" of event, to include identification of admission selling points and event entry points.
f) Event management personnel to contact in order to gain access to event records, should the auditor deem it appropriate.

Newspapers may petition ABC staff for exception to the notification period for events that are organized on a "last-minute basis," such as sporting playoff series (where the location is not determined until immediately before the series begins) or other similar situations.

For pre-qualification purposes, repetitive events, such as weekly flea markets, need only one pre-qualification for all that will occur within a statement period (although notification is to identify each week individually). All other events must be individually pre-qualified.

Qualification Standards:

1. All newspaper transactions must take place at the event - no advance sales.
2. Delivery of the newspaper must occur upon entrance to the event.
3. Newspaper "check rooms" shall not be permitted.
4. All admission signs at the event venue must make disclosure of the components of the sale, to include reference that the newspaper cost is optional to the combined total cost. In addition, all signs at the ticket selling location must comply with the following guidelines.
a) Signs must be posted at each ticket booth or ticket selling location.
b) Signs must be placed at eye level and directly visible to the purchaser.
c) Signs must be at least 11" x 17" (27.9cm x 43.2cm) in size.
d) Admission price, newspaper costs, and "optional combined price" amount must be of equal prominence and in juxtaposition.
e) Lettering must be at least 1" (2.54cm) high and comply to the following format:

Example:
Admission price $9.75
Newspaper cost $0.25
Optional combined price $10.00

5. If newspapers are not available during any part of the event's duration, admission must automatically revert to event-only admission price.
6. The newspaper sold at an event must be consistent in content with newspapers sold in the same advertising sales zone as the event location (no modified newspapers).
7. All ABC rules governing paid circulation qualification must be followed.

Audit Process:
All events will be subject to unannounced audit. The audit process will test the following:

1. Notification - Do all event admission signs provide required notification (prominence/juxtaposition)?
2. Transactions - Is the auditor advised of the inclusion of the newspaper price whenever the amount tendered is greater than event admission price only - and can the auditor readily receive a refund, if the newspaper is declined?
3. Distribution - Is the newspaper distributed within a reasonable proximity to the admission point?
4. ABC Qualification - Are all rules followed (and is the newspaper content consistent to those sold in the same area)?

For audit purposes, each event duration constitutes a separate event. (Thus, a weekly flea market would be 26 events in a Publisher's Statement period.)

Audit Results

1. Notification - Any sign at an event which does not qualify will "disqualify" the event.
2. Transactions - The auditor will attempt all reasonable and appropriate number of transactions as feasible under the conditions in existence at the event venue. The auditor's findings as to compliance with the policy will be based on the tests executed, or observed by the auditor. If the auditor's findings suggest non-compliance to the requirements of this policy, the event will be "disqualified."
3. Distribution - Any observation found which is not in accord with the standard will "disqualify" the event.
4. ABC Qualification - Any observation found which is not in accord with the standard will "disqualify" the event.

Application of Audit Results

Disqualification of any event (for any reason) will cause sales at that event to be eliminated from Publisher's Statement claims - and will automatically result in the scheduling of audit tests for a future event.

If two successive events tested are found to "disqualify" for any reason, the publication shall not be permitted to claim event sales in the Publisher's Statement period in which the second disqualifying event took place.