
The StubHub platform opened for the first home game of the season, Swansea, and has subsequently been activated when a home game has sold out; Norwich City, Chelsea, West Ham United to date.
Monitoring the list prices on the platform for these games has made uncomfortable viewing, with tickets being listed regularly at 3, 4, 5 times face value and, in the case of Chelsea, in excess of £1000.
THST’s call for tickets to be priced at face value has obviously been ignored by some Season Ticket Holders. However, we think it is important to point out that whilst we may disagree with the extortionate prices being charged by some, they are acting within the parameters of the agreement and the vitriol we have seen aimed at these fans has been disappointing.
At our meeting with THFC and StubHub UK in July, THST was promised access to top level transactional data after each game to gauge the average sale value and volume passing through the platform, so that we could make a comparison to the
old ticket exchange. Almost a month has now passed since the Swansea game and despite numerous requests, the data has not been forthcoming.
Without transactional figures, THST can only conclude that tickets are trading at inflated prices on a regular basis; something we cannot condone.
In an age when primary match tickets are out of reach of so many long standing supporters, to operate a system where secondary tickets are doubled and tripled in price is completely unacceptable.
THST will continue its call for tickets to be listed at face value whilst requesting further discussions with THFC and StubHub around price capping and other measures which could, theoretically, improve the platform for the remainder of the contract.
End.