The resale of tickets to live events for profit is to be banned as part of a clampdown on websites that charge fans high prices to see their favourite stars, the Government has announced.
The plan aims to stop automated bots from buying up the tickets then reselling them for an extreme profit. Today, music fans in Liverpool welcomed the announcement, with one describing resale prices as often “ridiculous”.
For many years, music, theatre, comedy and sports fans have been dealing with tickets being resold at up to six times their original value.
Restricting ticket touts was one of the Labour government’s election pledges as fans complained about inflated prices. Last March, Sir Keir Starmer, in his speech at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in central London, said access to culture could not be “at the mercy of ruthless ticket touts who drive up the prices”.
Dozens of artists such as Sam Fender, Coldplay and Dua Lipa have urged the Prime Minister in an open letter to protect the fans from exploitation.
Music lovers in Liverpool welcomed the move to restrict ticket resale.
Josh Morris, 21, said: “It’s better for us, people buy multiple tickets to sell for an extra profit and its not fair.”
Caitlin O’Neill, 20, added: “Sometimes I’ve paid more than double for a ticket before, so I’m glad something is finally being done about.”
Khadime Seck, 23, also praised the decision. He said: “The fact that it will stop resellers is good, the prices began to get ridiculous.”
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) suggested the move would end the “business model of industrial-scale ticket touting” and collectively save fans £112m per year.
Resale platforms will soon have a legal duty to monitor and enforce the new regulations.
@merseynewslive the government are banning reselling tickets for live events at a higher price.
