Old Trafford ticket plans under threat by new government clampdown

The government’s plans to clamp down on ticket touts at football clubs has only increased in the past 12 months.

It’s understood that the government had originally proposed the idea of capping secondary sports ticket sales at 30% above the face-value price of a ticket, but a limit has been set to the original cost.

Officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have stated that the change will reduce each resale ticket by an average of £37 and save consumers £112 million per year.

However, The Guardian reported that prior to this news, United had set out original plans to sell personal seat licenses (PSL) to supporters in their attempts to help boost their funds for the development of their new £2 billion stadium, set to replace Old Trafford.

It is said that United planned to sell 30-year seat licenses for a sum of £4,000. With the government’s plans set out, the opportunity of resales for profit would no longer exist, and the club are expected to alter their pricing strategy.

The PSL’s that United planned to offer gave permission for the holders to sell-on their match and season tickets.

However, the government proposals would put a stop to this, with the new law expected to be given a mention in next year’s King’s Speech.

Plans for seat licenses at Old Trafford was put to thousands of United’s fans through a survey conducted by commercial research company CSL International.

They would give the fanbase the chance to buy a specific seat at the new stadium, with a separate payment required for season tickets.

Seat licenses would only be sold to the premium seats and licence holders would be guaranteed to remain in the same seat, a right they would lose should they fail to pay the costs for a season ticket.

Now, Manchester United may have to rethink their funding ideas for the new stadium as these plans seem to shut down before it could start.