The government is reportedly set to outlaw the resale of live event tickets for profit.
Ministers are expected to announce the initiative as part of a broader effort to combat ticket touts and secondary resale platforms that offer tickets at significantly inflated prices.
Curbing ticket touts was a key pledge in the Labour government’s election platform, addressing concerns from fans regarding the exorbitant prices of resale tickets for music and sporting events.
This decision follows a public appeal from numerous artists, including Sam Fender, Dua Lipa, and Coldplay, who urged Sir Keir Starmer the previous week to protect fans from exploitation.
A prior consultation explored options for capping resale costs at a maximum of 30% above the ticket’s original face value.
However, according to reports in the Guardian and the Financial Times, ministers are now expected to set the limit at face value, though additional fees may still be permissible on top of the initial ticket price.
The government has yet to issue an official statement regarding these reports.
The potential announcement, anticipated on Wednesday, comes shortly after the publication of an open letter signed by some of the music industry’s most prominent figures.
These musicians urged the Prime Minister to take action against what they described as “extortionate and pernicious” websites that exploit fans through inflated ticket prices.
The letter also garnered support from organizations such as the consumer advocacy group Which?, the Football Supporters’ Association, and various bodies representing the music and theatre sectors, venues, and ticket retailers.
Based on analysis from the Competition and Markets Authority, tickets currently available on the resale market typically exhibit markups exceeding 50%.
Previous investigations by Trading Standards have revealed instances of tickets being resold for as much as six times their original value.
Rocio Concha, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Which?, hailed the move as “great news for music and sports fans”, asserting that the plan would “rein in professional touts and put tickets back in the hands of real fans”.
She further urged the government to “demonstrate that the price cap is a priority by including the necessary legislation in the King’s Speech”.
Live Nation Entertainment, the parent company of Ticketmaster, affirmed that it already limits resale prices to face value in the UK and characterized the reported plan as “another major step forward for fans”.
Resale platforms like Viagogo and Stubhub have previously argued that a price cap could drive consumers towards unregulated platforms and social media channels, thereby increasing their vulnerability to fraud.
The Royal Ballet and Opera says this new pricing model will help the venue “maximise ticket revenue”.
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