Could Fans be Affected The Most?

Ontario proposed a crackdown on ticket resale pricing a week ago, but has since updated the language in Bill 94. Bill 94 bars anyone from selling a ticket on the secondary market, or facilitating a sale for an amount above the ticket’s face value, including fees and service charges. Originally, the bill centered on banning resales above the original all-in amount paid to the primary seller, and with the new language points more towards the face value of the ticket. Putting fans in a bad spot: if they bought those tickets above face value and try to resell them, they won’t be able to at the price they paid.

Will it Affect The World Cup?

Ontario stated that Bill 94 will apply to the World Cup matches taking place in Toronto. Meaning a fan who bought on resale at a higher cost could be forced to relist their ticket at the original price rather than the higher amount they actually paid. The result would not just hit ticket brokers, speculative sellers, or other targets of consumer ire – it could also hammer local consumers who paid market price and then found themselves unable to attend. Supporters of the cap will argue that this is the point: to protect consumers from resale gouging, strengthen guarantees, and create tools to stop unfair ticketing fees. But the real question is, who is this law truly attacking, and who will absorb the losses at the end of the day?