Surge in number of panicking punters reselling live event tickets

NERVOUS concertgoers and sports fans are frantically trying to resell tickets for major events amid the panic around the spread of coronavirus.

Online ticket marketplace Viagogo reported a 45 per cent increase in people listing tickets for events in the UK in the past week. It comes after the cancellation or postponement of some major events in the past few weeks, including Ireland’s Six Nations rugby match against Italy in Dublin and the London Book Fair. If an event is cancelled, ticketholders are usually entitled to a refund. But if they choose not to go because of fears for their health this may not be possible.

Martyn James, of Resolver, a consumer complaints service, said although live events were not yet being cancelled en masse in the UK, panic about the outbreak had led to many people considering whether to attend.

Secondary ticketing websites give fans the chance to try and resell unwanted tickets for events they can no longer attend or no longer want. Critics argue they enable touts to buy tickets in bulk and profiteer at the expense of desperate fans who will pay inflated prices to see their favourite shows.

However, Viagogo said it helps fans overcome the “severe restriction” venues place on those who wish to cancel.

Tickets have been listed on Viagogo for a sold-out Lewis Capaldi concert next week at Wembley Arena for around £100, while tickets for yesterday’s Six Nations match between England and Wales at Twickenham were listed the day before for close to £500.

Mr James said: “Lots of people are wondering if they should really be going to a crowded venue with more than 5,000 people. You don’t automatically have a right to a refund if you choose not to go, so resale sites are seeing an uptick in activity as a knock-on effect.

“However, many businesses are allowing people to sell their tickets back to the box office.” Mr James pointed out that sellers sometimes have to attend the venue in order to help buyers gain access, thus “defeating the object” of avoiding the area to limit the chances of infection.

Tickets have also been listed on platforms like Facebook’s Marketplace, although it is unclear if this is because of coronavirus. Viagogo said: “The live events sector has undoubtedly been impacted in the UK. We have seen an overall increase of 45 per cent in fans listing their tickets in the UK this week, but that could be for a variety of factors.

“Viagogo customers are always protected by our guarantee, which means in the event of a cancellation they will get a full refund. Customers should be warned that buying tickets on unregulated sites or social media platforms doesn’t come with such guarantees.”

Earlier this year, the Competitions and Markets Authority investigated the ticket market amid fears consumers were being overcharged or misled.