Secondary ticket market: price caps for ticket exchanges in the planning stage

In view of high prices on the secondary ticket market, Federal Justice and Consumer Protection Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) wants to limit price surcharges on tickets for sporting and cultural events by law in the future and introduce a price cap.

“We need a clear price limit for resale,” Hubig told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. Specifically, the minister demands that ticket exchanges can add a maximum of 20 percent, but a maximum of 20 euros, to the original price. A draft law is already on the way.

Law ready and in internal vote

Other countries "have long had laws against rip-offs on the secondary ticket market. It's high time we followed suit," emphasized Hubig, who justified her move with inflated prices online and in front of venues.

Dealers would specifically buy up tickets in order to then resell them, sometimes with very high markups. “This is a rip-off,” said Hubig. “And it comes at the expense of clubs, organizers and artists, many of whom also offer cheap tickets so that people with smaller budgets can also attend.”

The minister said the draft for a “ticket protection law” was ready and was already being voted on within the government. “My goal is that we pull together here and the law can come into force before the next summer of sports and concerts.”