The UK government’s new plans will see the introduction of a price cap on resale tickets, aimed at combatting ticket touts who bulk purchase tickets and resell them at a significant profit. The proposed cap will apply to sports, comedy, music, and theatre events, and is seen as a significant step towards reducing the inflated costs being charged on the resale market. The consultation, which has been promised since the elections, aims to seek the public’s input on the proposed cap price, which could be set at either the ticket’s face value or a maximum of 30% over the initial price.
The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) analysed the resale market, revealing that the prices of tickets sold in that way can be increased by over 50%. Trading Standards’ investigations have found instances of tickets selling at quadruple, quintuple, and even six times the ticket’s original cost. Several popular music artists, including Taylor Swift and Coldplay, have reported resold tickets online moments after tickets to their concerts sell out. The sale of tickets at vastly inflated rates affects both performers and customers and can create anger and frustration.
The government’s proposals which include new legal obligations for ticket resale websites and apps, and limitations on the number of tickets that resellers can sell, will oversee the accuracy of information provided to customers and protect consumers from unfair sales practices. The Minister responsible for Culture, Lisa Nandy, said that the government aims to strengthen consumer protections and put money back into the live events industry instead of dishonest touts.
The government investigation will continue alongside a call for additional evidence, focusing on dynamic pricing, which is often utilised to sell unsold tickets, with the prices of tickets elevated for high-demand events. Suggestions for a clear price cap from UK Music, who represent the country’s music industry, have been received positively, along with the praise of Fatboy Slim, who tweeted his support to the government. Campaign groups, including the FanFair Alliance, have welcomed the proposals, describing them as potentially game-changing, citing examples of other countries such as Ireland, which banned ticket touts in 2021, where legislation has been implemented to curb the impact of illegal ticket sales practices
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