By Mummy Grace 
The UK government has announced new proposals aimed at addressing the issue of exorbitant ticket prices for concerts and events, following public outrage over the resale of tickets for Oasis’s highly anticipated reunion tour. The measures seek to protect fans from professional touts and a lack of transparency in ticket pricing practices.
Key Issues Highlighted:
- Ticket Resale at Inflated Prices:
Professional touts have been buying tickets in bulk and reselling them for up to six times their original price on unofficial platforms. - Dynamic Pricing Controversy:
Official ticket sellers have been using dynamic pricing systems, which adjust prices based on demand, often leading to dramatically higher costs. - Public Backlash:
The Oasis reunion tour, announced in August by Noel and Liam Gallagher, brought these issues to the forefront as fans faced skyrocketing prices both through dynamic pricing and resale platforms.
Proposed Solutions:
- Capping Resale Prices:
A consultation will explore the idea of limiting resale prices to no more than 30% above the original cost. - Restricting Resellers:
Limiting the number of tickets an individual reseller can list to prevent bulk hoarding. - Evaluating Dynamic Pricing:
Gathering evidence to assess whether the current dynamic pricing model offers adequate consumer protections against unfair practices.
Government Stance:
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government has expressed strong support for these measures, with Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds highlighting the need to prevent consumers from being exploited during major events, from concerts to sports tournaments.
This move comes as part of broader efforts to make ticketing fairer and more transparent for fans across the UK.