FIFA’s ticket resale marketplace for the World Cup no longer displays available seats for matches in Toronto following the implementation of a new price restriction last week. The recent Ontario legislation prohibits individuals and platforms from reselling event tickets in the province for more than their original value. FIFA has stated that its resale platform is undergoing adjustments to adhere to the new law enacted on Friday. While listings for Toronto’s World Cup games have not been removed, they are currently on hold and are anticipated to be relisted once the necessary system modifications are finalized. The FIFA marketplace still features listings for World Cup games in all other host cities except Toronto.
The resale platform StubHub is still offering World Cup match tickets in Toronto above face value. On a Tuesday afternoon, the company had numerous tickets available for Canada’s initial game against Bosnia-Herzegovina, with some priced in the thousands of dollars. Certain tickets in the lower seating sections were even listed at $72,705 each. Last week, StubHub acknowledged that it had not yet complied with the new Ontario legislation due to a lack of clear guidance. The company spokesperson, Jack Sterne, mentioned that despite a constructive discussion with Stephen Crawford, the minister of public and business service delivery, unresolved issues persist. Sterne expressed gratitude for the meeting and stated that systems are being updated to conform to Bill 97, the price cap law.
Earlier this year, the provincial government introduced the price cap legislation following public outcry over resold tickets for past events being inflated to multiples of their face value. The government emphasized that the resale cap aims to safeguard fans and consumers from unscrupulous resellers who drive up ticket prices artificially. The province is collaborating with StubHub to ensure compliance, with non-compliant businesses facing penalties starting at $3,000 and potentially escalating to $250,000 for continued violations. Concerns have been raised that the legislation might steer event attendees toward unofficial markets, which are more susceptible to fraudulent activities and could contribute to an increase in the original ticket prices.