The Government is poised to implement a ban on the resale of live event tickets for profit. Ministers are expected to unveil a strategy aimed at curbing touts and secondary ticketing platforms that sell tickets at significantly inflated prices.
The Labour manifesto had pledged enhanced protections to prevent consumers from falling victim to scams or being priced out of events by touts who utilize bots to snatch up tickets in bulk as soon as they are released for sale, only to resell them at exorbitant markups.
While a consultation had sought input on potentially capping resale prices at a maximum of 30% above face value, reports from the Guardian and Financial Times suggest that the limit is likely to be set at the face value itself, with the possibility of additional fees on top.
The Government has refrained from commenting on the reports, but speculation indicates an announcement may be made soon, following a push by prominent music figures such as Coldplay, Dua Lipa, and Radiohead to reduce costs for fans. A coalition of artists including The Cure’s Robert Smith, New Order, and others have advocated for a price cap to restore faith in the ticketing system and promote wider public access to the arts.
Various entities, including Which?, FanFair Alliance, and O2, have supported the move, emphasizing the importance of combatting professional touts and ensuring that genuine fans have fair access to tickets. Live Nation Entertainment, the parent company of Ticketmaster, has endorsed the Government’s initiative to prohibit ticket resale above face value, underscoring the importance of prioritizing fans and cracking down on exploitative practices.
However, StubHub has cautioned that imposing a price cap could push ticket transactions towards black markets, potentially exposing fans to risks and limited recourse. Similarly, Viagogo has highlighted previous failures of price caps in other countries, warning of increased fraud rates and consumer vulnerability on unregulated platforms.
As the debate continues, stakeholders await further developments to see how the Government’s proposed measures will impact the ticketing industry and consumer experiences.