The University of Westminster has launched a research project to investigate how event tickets work and how consumers can be better protected in the digital age. Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the project will define what an event ticket legally represents, improve how ticket resales are regulated, examine the impact of new ticketing technologies and develop practical solutions to tackle the problems that often come with buying tickets online.
The project will be led by Professor Guy Osborn, Professor in the Westminster Law School, alongside Mark James from Manchester Metropolitan University, and Naomi Creutzfeldt from the University of Kent. The team will explore what an event ticket actually represents, who legally owns it and what rights each party has. Their goal is to help tackle the problem of tickets being resold at unfairly high prices. The findings will help consumers buy tickets with confidence, knowing they are valid and fairly sold, and support policymakers in creating better regulations for ticket resales.
The UK event ticket market is a significant contributor to both society and the economy, valued at £58bn in 2018 and projected to reach £109bn by 2032. With online ticketing becoming the only option when it comes to gaining entry to events such as live music, sports and experiences, the consumer is left with little choice but to join the online waiting room. However, since tickets often sell out faster than they can be supplied, a resale market has grown, raising questions about whether it is always legal or fair.
To achieve their objectives the project team will carry out surveys, observations, interviews and focus groups to make the legal status of event tickets easier to understand, clarify whether the strict terms and conditions set by original ticket sellers are fair and lawful and propose a new way to regulate the resale ticket market. The project’s findings could offer real, practical benefits by helping consumers better understand their rights and making the ticketing system fairer for everyone.
Professor Osborn said: “This is a project that I can’t wait to get started on. I have collected tickets since my first gig, XTC at Birmingham Odeon in 1981, and have researched them for the past two decades. Recent furores around Oasis and Taylor Swift have shown the area is an important one, and hopefully this study, with my colleagues Professor Mark James and Professor Naomi Creutzfeldt, will go some way to answering some of the fundamental questions that have, to date, not been fully explored.”
The research project directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities and 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about Law courses at the University of Westminster.
Related articles
