Ticketmaster forced to place limit on World Cup ticket resale prices at key stadium
- Ticketmaster Canada has been forced to take down existing listings due to Ontario's amendment to its ticket resale policy, capping the price of resales as a result of a new budget bill being passed in the province.
With FIFA World Cup ticket prices continuing to be a contentious topic as the joint U.S., Mexico, and Canada-based tournament edges ever closer, Ticketmaster Canada has been forced to alter its resale policy.
As of next week, the ticket sales firm will be forced to cap the price of resales as a result of a new budget bill being passed in Ontario.
Speaking with CP24 , a spokesperson for Ticketmaster Canada explained, "With the legislation coming into force shortly, we have begun contacting all fans with tickets listed on our resale platform to let them know we have delisted their tickets from our marketplace.
BMO Field has undergone numerous major changes ahead of the FIFA World Cup -Credit:Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
"Next week, fans will be able to relist their tickets in compliance with Ontario's new legal requirements once updates have been made to our resale marketplace."
The spokesperson went on to emphasize that the company backs the change, describing it as "an important step toward creating a more transparent resale market for fans."
The bill in question features an amendment to the Ticket Sales Act of 2017, meaning reselling tickets for above their original total cost to concerts, cultural events, sporting events, and other live events in the province will be illegal.
Should businesses be found guilty of breaching this amendment, they could be penalized by as much as $10,000.
Resale listings were removed as of Thursday, with users able to relist their tickets next week, as per an email from Ticketmaster Canada shared online.
The purpose of the amendment is to stop budding event attendees from being exploited by extortionate resale prices.
Ontario is one of two provinces set to host World Cup games this summer, with Toronto's BMO Field set to host six games, including Canada's Group B opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12.
Jesse Marsch's side will then travel to BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, where they'll face Qatar on June 18. They will remain in the province for their group stage finale against Switzerland on June 24, with the hopes of reaching the newly created Round of 32, implemented to accommodate the tournament's expansion to 48 participating nations.
Ahead of the tournament, BMO Field is undergoing major work in preparation for its six games, including adding 17,756 temporary seats at either end of the field. The capacity will be 45,736 throughout the tournament, as was announced in March 2025.
The stadium's locker rooms and player spaces have also been upgraded, while the infrastructure for broadcasters will also be improved upon.
Vancouver's BC Place is set to host seven World Cup games -Credit:Rich Lam/Getty Images
As for the fans' experience, the plans included the addition of four new LED videoboards, along with new lighting and an improved audio system. Some concession stands will also use generative AI to help speed up processes, while the WiFi was also in line for an upgrade.
A new kitchen and extra concession stands will also make for a smoother experience for fans, while new suites will be added to the North end. The playing surface itself and team dugouts were also listed for upgrades.
All of this work was set to be funded by an investment of $123 million by the City, as well as a further investment of $23 million from MLSE.
