StubHub Allowed Prolific Tout To List 300 Tickets For Sold-Out Concert By Pop Star Capaldi

The ticket resale website StubHub may have failed to prevent breaches of consumer law on its platform when it allowed a prolific tout to advertise more than 300 tickets for a Lewis Capaldi concert, experts have said.

- Rob Davies

StubHub and fellow secondary ticketing platform Viagogo are under intense scrutiny from ministers, who are considering whether to ban for-profit ticket resale in an effort to protect fans.

Despite the increased attention, analysis of listings on StubHub indicates the use of business practices that consumer groups and music industry figures and ticketing experts believe are likely to be unlawful.

One company, TG Cyprus Event Services (TGCES), was listing tickets for Oasis, Billie Eilish, the England v India cricket Test series and autumn rugby internationals, as of early July.

TGCES, whose name StubHub is required to disclose because the company sells more than 100 tickets a year, also advertised Wimbledon final seats for £41,900 each.

But the event that it appears to have most heavily targeted was the opening night of a hotly anticipated series of arena shows by Capaldi.

The tour, the singer-songwriter's first in two years, sold out within seconds. Disappointed fans expressed their outrage when resale sites including Viagogo and StubHub began advertising tickets at large markups soon afterwards.

Both companies say they do not set the prices charged by sellers on their platforms and provide guarantees to ensure fans are protected if anything goes wrong.