UK Government to Cap Resale Ticket Prices in Crackdown on Ticket Touts

The UK government has unveiled plans to introduce a cap on resale ticket prices in an effort to tackle ticket touts.

The proposed cap aims to stop touts from exploiting fans by bulk-purchasing tickets and reselling them at inflated prices. It would apply to tickets for live events across music, sports, comedy, and theatre.

This initiative fulfills a key election promise following widespread complaints from fans about the inflated costs of resale tickets. A public consultation will now be launched to determine the cap, which could range from the ticket’s original face value to a 30% markup.

In addition to the cap, the Government is seeking evidence on the controversial practice of dynamic pricing. This system adjusts ticket prices based on demand, often resulting in significant cost increases. Fans voiced outrage last August when Oasis tickets, initially priced at £150, soared to over £350 due to dynamic pricing.

According to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), tickets resold on secondary markets are typically marked up by more than 50%, with investigations by Trading Standards revealing some tickets being sold for up to six times their original price. Fans of Coldplay and Taylor Swift have been particularly vocal, with many reporting that tickets to their sold-out shows were listed on resale platforms for thousands of pounds just minutes after the general sale ended.

As part of the crackdown, ministers are proposing measures to limit the number of tickets that resellers can sell to match the maximum allowed in the original sale. The government also aims to impose new legal obligations on ticket resale platforms to ensure the accuracy of the information they provide. Trading Standards and the CMA will be tasked with enforcing these regulations.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy emphasised the importance of protecting fans and the live events sector, saying, “The chance to see your favourite musicians or sports team live is something all of us enjoy and everyone deserves a fair shot at getting tickets – but for too long fans have had to endure the misery of touts hoovering up tickets for resale at vastly inflated prices.”

“As part of our Plan for Change, we are taking action to strengthen consumer protections, stop fans getting ripped off and ensure money spent on tickets goes back into our incredible live events sector, instead of into the pockets of greedy touts.”

The move has been praised by fans and musicians alike, with DJ, Fat Boy Slim, adding, “[It’s] great to see money being put back into fans pockets instead of resellers. Fully behind this effort to make sure more people can enjoy incredible arts and music events across the country without being ripped off. It is part of the change this government were elected to make.”

The consultation is expected to generate a range of opinions and could pave the way for significant changes to how tickets are sold and resold in the UK. Fans and industry stakeholders alike will be watching closely as the government moves forward with these proposals.