Manchester United’s plan to sell personal seat licences (PSLs) to help fund a £2bn Old Trafford redevelopment has been jeopardised by the government’s move to outlaw ticket resale above face value.
The PSL model under consideration would have allowed licence holders to resell match or season tickets at a profit. But new legislation set for next year’s king’s speech will ban inflated sports and music ticket resales. Government sources indicated they would oppose United creating any profit-making secondary market.
United recently surveyed fans about PSLs, which grant the right to buy a specific seat for a set period, separate from the cost of a season ticket. They were expected to be sold only for premium sections, with reported pricing around £4,000 for 30 years. A ban on profitable resale may force the club to alter pricing or strategy.
Debentures at venues such as Wimbledon and Twickenham are not expected to be affected, as they function as loans reinvested into the sport. United say the consultation is at an early stage and will comply with all legislative requirements.
