Spanish resale org condemns “unethical” practice
The National Ticketing Association (Asociación Nacional de Ticketing – Anatic), an association representing Spain’s secondary ticketing sector, has issued a warning against the conduct of secondary ticketing operators in the country.
Anatic, founded in February 2018 by representatives of three Spanish secondary platforms, seeks to regulate and professionalise the secondary market. The organisation aims to weed out the fraudulent resellers that it believes are to blame for the resale market’s negative reputation.
The association is condemning “unethical conduct: falsification, fraud and resale” specifically with regards to the sale of tickets for the Champions League final in Madrid, but notes that the same practice extends to concert tickets.
Police in Madrid today arrested three individuals, confiscating 21 fake tickets and €3,180 in cash. The police warned against buying tickets outside of official channels.
The football final takes place on Saturday 1 June at Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium (67,829-cap.). The stadium, which played host to iron Maiden last summer, has a packed music schedule this year, with concerts from Ed Sheeran, Bon Jovi, Muse, Alejandro Sanz and Manuel Carrasco.
“[Regulation would] allow professional companies to operate in the sector in a trustworthy and rigorous manner”
“A number of resale sites are not verifying that they actually possess the tickets before putting them up for sale,” say Anatic representatives, stating that in many cases tickets are sold before appearing on the primary market.
The secondary ticketing organisation also stresses the need for a national register for resale operators, stating that this would “allow professional companies to operate in the sector in a trustworthy and rigorous manner.”
Once again, Anatic calls for the regulation of the secondary ticketing sector to eliminate the presence of “opportunistic actors that generate negative public opinion”. However, the association maintains its position that the secondary market is a “necessary” service.
According to the International Ticketing Yearbook 2018, secondary ticketing remains a contentious issue in Spain. Representatives from the Ministry of Culture called for national legislation on ticket resale in October, following proposals on Congress the previous year. Concrete action has yet to be taken.
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Spanish secondary ticketers’ association calls for regulation
The National Ticketing Association, a newly established body representing the secondary ticketing sector in Spain, has said the resale of tickets is a “positive” thing for those who can no longer attend – but that it must be regulated to protect consumers.
The association, known in Spanish as the Asociación Nacional de Ticketing (Anatic), was set up in February by representatives of three Spanish secondary platforms: María Requena of Monoticket, Miguel Jiménez of Eventradas (Oferta y Gestión de Ocio) and Marcos Fernández of Event Factory. Similar to the UK’s Association of Secondary Ticket Agents (ASTA) and the US’s National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB), Anatic seeks the professionalisation of the industry and to weed out fradulent resellers, who they blame for creating negative “public opinion” of the resale market.
According to Requena, the current lack of regulation in Spain has created an environment where ticket fraud is “difficult to identify” and where resold tickets often have no guarantee. She tells Europa Press that there are, however, companies (including, presumably, her own) that guarantee the legitimacy of the ticket.
“Future legislation” around ticket resale is an “opportunity” to create a level playing field for all ticket sellers
“Future legislation” around ticket resale, Requena suggests, is therefore an “opportunity” to create a level playing field for all ticket agents and ensure fair competition. “We want to ensure this important sector becomes part of the public consciousness and […] is able to demonstrate its worth.”
Spanish culture minister Íñigo Méndez de Vigo pledged in March 2017 to “regulate” the online ticket resale market, although he ruled out an outright ban, saying it would be like “putting doors on a field” (“ponerle puertas al campo”) – ie impossible.
A recent survey by Ticketea revealed nearly three quarters of resold tickets in Spain are touted for profit.
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