London – The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced a consultation on proposals to regulate the secondary market for event tickets. This follows an earlier manifesto pledge to “put fans back at the heart of events by introducing new consumer protections on ticket resales.”
The Government consultation asks about potential measures including price caps; new legal obligations for ticket resale websites and apps; and a review of consumer enforcement.
The following can be attributed to CCIA Senior Director and head of CCIA’s London office Matthew Sinclair:
“The secondary market has a vital role giving fans a means to attend events they might have missed when tickets first went on sale and helping people who no longer need their tickets get a good deal. Draconian regulation, targeting only the secondary market, will only mean more tickets changing hands in informal settings without the same protections that exist in proper marketplaces. Ministers should address legitimate concerns with a holistic approach that encourages the original sellers of tickets, secondary marketplaces and others involved to all do their bit to make buying and selling tickets an even fairer and safer experience.”
