£1M in U2 Tickets Advertised by One Reseller

A significant resale market for U2 tickets has emerged, with one individual advertising over £1 million in tickets for the band's 2027 tour through StubHub. This individual, identified as Vladyslav Skrypka from Harlow, Essex, listed more than 1,800 tickets for a single London date, some priced at over four times the original cost.

This situation has intensified calls from artists and industry professionals for the culture secretary to enact planned legislation aimed at outlawing resale for profit. The proposed bill, intended to 'shut down the touts' racket,' is expected to be published during the current parliamentary session, which could extend into 2027. This legislative push follows concerns that professional ticket traders are using illegal 'bot' software or engaging in 'speculative selling' to acquire and resell tickets at inflated prices.

StubHub has stated it does not support bots and calls for stronger enforcement at the source, while Ticketmaster asserts that resale sites create the incentive for bot usage. As of this week, a substantial number of U2 tickets were listed on StubHub, with the vast majority attributed to professional traders rather than private sellers. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport reaffirmed its commitment to combating ticket touting and protecting fans from exploitation.