'It needs to be fairer': What people in Leeds really think about plans for ticket price caps

• The Government is set to ban selling concert tickets above face value, promising to save fans an estimated £112 million annually.
• While artists celebrate the end of "extortionate" touting, major banks and resale sites warn that the cap will dramatically increase fraud on black market channels.
• We break down the fiery debate with insight from the industry - and what Yorkshire Evening Post readers think of the radical new law.

The long battle to protect music and sports fans from exploitative resale prices may soon be over.

The UK Government has officially announced plans to make it illegal to resell tickets for live events above their original cost (face value plus unavoidable fees), a move designed to "smash the touts' model to pieces."

The Government estimates the new cap will have a massive impact, with resale tickets becoming £37 cheaper on average for consumers, saving fans collectively an estimated £112 million per year, with Business Secretary Peter Kyle stating: "That’s why we’re taking these bold measures to smash their model to pieces and make sure more fans can enjoy their favourite stars at a fair price.”

However, while some hail the news as a huge victory, the move has also faced fierce resistance from groups in the financial and secondary ticketing sectors.

So, what are the arguments for and against ticket price caps - and more importantly, what do our readers and writers in Leeds think about the plans in motion?

The great concert ticketing price cap debate

Those in the industry for price caps

Industry figures are clear that the cap is essential to end the "extortionate and pernicious" practice of professional touts buying tickets in bulk and reselling them for massive mark-ups (for example, Taylor Swift tickets for thousands of pounds). Artists like Dua Lipa and Coldplay view the policy as a moral necessity to protect their fans from exploitation.

A letter, signed by over 40 musicians, including Iron Maiden and Radiohead, states that for too long, some resale platforms have allowed touts to bulk buy and then resell tickets at inflated prices, "forcing fans to either pay above the odds or miss out entirely."

Primary ticketing giants like Live Nation and AXS are strongly supportive, noting the policy simply enforces the face-value resale policies they already have in place. They argue that the legislation reinforces trust, restores the idea that a ticket is a license for an experience—not a commodity—and helps keep live events accessible.

Ethical resale platforms like Twickets point out that when fans aren't fleeced on the ticket price, they have more money to spend on artist merchandise and supporting the local economy (restaurants and hotels) around the venue.

Those in the industry against price caps

Opposition to the cap is sharp and focused almost entirely on consumer safety and the risks of market unintended consequences; this position is largely championed by the financial sector and secondary ticketing platforms.

The core argument against the cap is that it will "condemn fans to take risks" by forcing ticket transactions away from regulated resale sites and onto the "black market" (social media and unofficial sites).

Critics cite evidence from countries where caps exist, claiming that similar policies in Ireland and Australia have caused ticket fraud rates to quadruple compared to the UK's current rate. Furthermore, they argue that the financial burden will fall on major institutions. UK Finance, representing major banks like Lloyds and NatWest, lobbied against the cap, arguing that banks would be left to "bear the burden" of increased fraud liability.

Secondary market leaders argue that the true solution is not a restrictive price cap, but technological integration that protects fans at the point of sale and resale. They champion a safer, open system that benefits competition.

What do people in Leeds think of the plans?

It was a mixed bag when it came to you, the Yorkshire Evening Post readers. Although many believe that the ban and caps are a good idea, some think ticket resales should still be possible.

Mark Stubly wrote: “No, not if it’s at face value. What should be banned is reselling tickets for profit (and) dynamic pricing.”

“I can understand a small amount of people have a last-minute emergency that they need to sell their ticket,” Barry Briggs wrote. “However, there are hundreds of tickets available on the selling sites at ridiculous prices.”

Ian DeWall also agreed that if someone cannot attend a concert, then a ticket resale should still be an option, but “they should be able to get back what they paid and nothing more.”

He suggested that “If people are allowed a maximum of 4 tickets per person and can only sell them on at face value, then there will be more chance that genuine fans won’t miss out.”

Lindsey Ella Rosetti wrote that “When (tickets) go on sale 12 months before the gig date, and knowing that if you don't buy a ticket as soon as they go on sale, then you will miss out. It's ridiculous because no one knows what the future holds for them, so the option of resale should stay, but a fairer process!”

What do we think?

But what of some of the other writers at the YEP, who have been to countless shows before and, yes, we still do have to pay to see some of our favourite acts perform in the city.

Dennis Morton thinks that “it’s hard to see any real downside to introducing ticket price caps” and that “artists like The Cure have been calling for fairer ticketing for years.

“Right now, the mix of inflated base prices and aggressive resale practices is pushing many gigs beyond the reach of everyday fans. Tickets for Gorillaz at the First Direct Arena, for example, are already over £100 - and that’s before even looking at what the resale sites are charging.

“Price caps, along with stricter action against touting, dynamic pricing, and exploitative resales, are vital steps toward protecting live music and keeping it open to the people who actually support it."

What do I think about it?

I come from a time when we didn’t strictly have secondary ticketing markets with Facebook, and eBay were our main methods of grabbing last-minute tickets. I’ve experienced myself paying for a ticket on Facebook through private conversations, only to be stranded outside of a venue and considering catching the last bus home.

Something, I’m sure, many of you have been in a similar position as I was before.

Do you think the banning of resale tickets and a proposed price cap will eliminate the extortionate prices of some secondary markets? Let us know your thoughts by dropping a comment on Facebook or by getting in contact with the writer of this piece.