Following the implementation of a new price cap last week, FIFA’s ticket resale marketplace for World Cup matches in Toronto no longer displays available seats.
The recent Ontario legislation prohibits the resale of event tickets in the province for more than face value by both individuals and online platforms.
FIFA has announced that its resale platform is being adjusted to comply with the newly enacted law in Ontario, which took effect on Friday.
While the listings for Toronto’s World Cup games have not been removed, they are currently on hold and will be re-listed once the necessary system modifications are finalized.
It is noted that FIFA’s resale marketplace still features listings for World Cup games in all host cities except Toronto.
Ticketmaster has started pulling listings to comply with a new provincial law that caps ticket resales at face value. CBC’s Greg Ross breaks down why some experts are saying prices could increase as a result.
Despite FIFA’s adjustments, StubHub, another resale platform, continues to offer World Cup match tickets in Toronto above face value.
As of Tuesday afternoon, StubHub had numerous tickets for Canada’s initial game against Bosnia-Herzegovina listed for several thousand dollars, with some lower bowl tickets priced at $72,705 each.
Last week, StubHub mentioned that it had not yet adhered to the new Ontario legislation due to a lack of clear guidance.
Jack Sterne, a spokesperson for StubHub, stated on Tuesday that despite a recent “productive conversation” with Stephen Crawford, the minister of public and business service delivery, unresolved issues remain as the company works towards compliance with Bill 97, the price cap law.
Sterne did not elaborate on the specific outstanding issues.
Earlier introduction of price cap legislation
Giulia Paikin, a spokesperson for Crawford, confirmed on Tuesday that the province is collaborating with StubHub to assist the company in meeting regulatory requirements.
Businesses failing to comply could face penalties starting at $3,000, with potential fines escalating up to $250,000 for continued non-compliance.
The provincial government, led by the Ford administration, proposed this legislation earlier in the year following public outcry over exorbitant resale prices for events like the World Series and Taylor Swift’s Eras tour.
The government emphasized that the resale cap aims to safeguard fans and consumers against price inflation driven by professional resellers.
Concerns have been raised that the legislation may push event attendees towards informal markets, which are more susceptible to scams and could drive up the initial ticket prices.