Ticketmaster closes websites used to rip off fans after new law signed off
A BLOW has been struck in the battle against ticket touts after Ticketmaster announced it will close its two resale websites Seatwave and Get Me In.
The move comes just three weeks after the Cabinet signed off on legislation brought forward by Fine Gael backbencher Noel Rock that makes it illegal to resale tickets at more than face value.
Sites such as Seatwave have come under scrutiny for selling tickets to popular acts such as U2 and Ed Sheeran at extortionate prices, just moments after the shows sold out on Ticketmaster.
Yesterday Ticketmaster boss Keith English announced plans to shut the websites and replace them with a new ‘ticket exchange’ as part of plans being rolled out across Europe.
Mr English said the company was listening to its customers who are ‘tired of seeing others snap up tickets just to resale for a profit on secondary websites’.
Mr Rock told the Irish Daily Mail the move was a ‘victory for concert goers and sports fans’ but added that it was no coincidence that Ticketmaster were shutting down their own resale website just weeks after the Government backed his legislation.
‘This is the desired effect that I hoped the legislation would have.,’ he said. ‘It’s great to see Ticketmaster have come around because over the last two years they have routinely issued statements and taken to the airwaves to say this legislation would be ineffective, to say that it would be unworkable.
‘But only three weeks after it was approved by Cabinet they have come around to the idea that day-to-day fans have been negatively impacted by sites like these.
‘It’s a good day for concert goers and sports fans, for people who enjoy live events. This is great news for punters who can finally buy tickets in a safe and secure marketplace.’
Mr Rock, who jointly proposed the Bill with Fianna Fáil’s Stephen Donnelly, said he had little sympathy for those who had earned a living from ticket touting and will be hit by the new laws.
‘The people who made a living out of this made a living out of routinely gouging fans,’ he added.
‘They made a living from denying tickets to the real fans. The punters are no longer going to be ripped off by them.
‘Ticketmaster is a very big company and it’s not easy to make them listen. A lot of people said I was mad to go up against them. But now they’re listening and it’s the fans who are going to benefit.’
Mr Rock is hopeful that the bill will proceed to the next stage in the Dáil before Halloween, which would mean it could take effect before the end of the year.
Yesterday Ticketmaster was keen to send out the impression that this was a decision the company had arrived at by itself.
Mr English insisted: ‘Closing Seatwave and creating a new
‘It’s a victory for concert goers’ ‘No.1 priority is to get tickets to fans’
ticket exchange has always been part of Ticketmaster’s long-term plan. It’s not just in Ireland, it is happening across Europe.
‘Our No.1 priority is to get tickets into the hands of fans so that they can go to the events they love.
‘We are aware that fans are tired of seeing others snap up tickets just to resale for a profit on secondary websites, so we have decided to take action.
‘And now we are delighted to launch our redesigned website which will make buying and selling tickets fast and simple, with all tickets in the same place.’
Seatwave and Get Me In are two websites owned by Ticketmaster which effectively do the same thing, allowing users to advertise tickets they wish to sell, at whatever price they wish.
The concert giant frequently came in for heavy criticism for operating the sites on which tickets for top artists such as U2, Ed Sheeran and Kendrick Lamar would appear at several times their original price just moments after selling out on Ticketmaster.
However, there are other sites that will continue to flog tickets at inflated prices until the legislation is passed, notably Stubhub and Viagogo.
Yesterday Stubhub was advertising tickets to Britney Spears’s upcoming show at the 3Arena, with one seat in the upper tier – which went on the market at €69.50 – being offered at €450.