Ticket resale

BreakingViagogo buys used ticket rival StubHub for $4bn

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Ticket reseller Viagogo has snapped up rival StubHub from eBay for $4.05bn (£3.14bn)

“Bringing these two companies together creates a win-win for fans - more choice and better pricing,” said Eric Baker, Viagogo boss, who co-founded StubHub while in business school, but left before the business was sold to eBay for $310m in 2007.

“It has long been my wish to unite the two companies. I am so proud of how StubHub has grown over the years and excited about the possibilities for our shared future.” he added.

The sale is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2020, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.

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Viagogo denies allegations

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Ed Sheeran has cancelled tickets purchased by touts and resold on sites

Ticket reseller Viagogo has contacted the BBC in response to the Competition and Markets Authority's announcement that it is now moving forward with legal proceedings for contempt of court against Viagogo.

"We were surprised at the announcement from the CMA today, which we learnt of through their press release, and we deny the allegations that we are in breach of compliance with their regulations," said a Viagogo spokesperson.

"We have recently completed a 3rd party review which has given us approval that we are reaching compliance with the requirements.

"It is important to note that no contempt of court has actually been filed against us at this time, and per the protocol of the order we have until the 18th July to respond to the CMA’s concerns.

"We will continue to work closely with the CMA, as we have been for the past year, to ensure we are offering the best possible consumer experience and protections in the UK."

Viagogo forced to overhaul its business

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Ticket resale site Viagogo has agreed to overhaul the way it does business to comply with a court order.

The Competition and Markets Authority launched legal proceedings in August over concerns that the ticket-seller was breaking consumer protection law.

The court has made a legally binding order instructing Viagogo to comply with the law.

It must tell purchasers if there is a risk that they will be turned away at the door and inform them which seat they will get.

It must not give misleading information about the availability and popularity of tickets and make it easy for people to get their money back.

Andrea Coscelli, CMA chief executive, said: “Viagogo has agreed to a comprehensive overhaul of its site to ensure it respects the law.”

It has until mid-January to comply or face a fine.

Tackling ticket touts

The UK government is clamping down on secondary sites reselling concert tickets
It can be an expensive affair getting to see your favourite bands live in concert. If tickets are sold out, many people end up going through a reselling site where the costs can spiral. 

These secondary sites are also home to touts who use multiple credit cards to buy up large numbers of tickets and then sell them at hugely inflated prices. But as Adeshola Ore reports, the UK government is trying to clamp down on the practice.

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Viagogo 'not respecting the law'

More on that legal action against Viagogo.

Andrea Coscelli, CMA chief executive, says consumers who look for tickets on reselling sites like theirs must be told what seat they will get and whether they risk being denied entry to a venue.

"This applies to Viagogo as much as it does to any other secondary ticketing website.

"Unfortunately, while other businesses have agreed to overhaul their sites to ensure they respect the law, Viagogo has not," he says.

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