Manchester United’s plan to sell personal seat licences (PSLs) to help fund a £2bn redevelopment of Old Trafford is under threat after the government announced stricter rules on ticket resales.
The club’s proposed PSL model would have allowed licence holders to resell match or season tickets at a profit, similar to systems used in US sports. But new legislation – expected in next year’s king’s speech – will ban selling sports or music tickets above face value. Government sources indicate they would also oppose any move by United to create a profit-making secondary market for seat licences.
United surveyed hundreds of thousands of fans about PSLs, which would give supporters the right to buy a specific seat for a set period, separate from the cost of a season ticket. PSLs were expected to apply only to premium seats, with a reported price of around £4,000 for a 30-year licence. Without resale value, prices may need adjusting.
The scheme differs from debentures at venues such as Wimbledon and Twickenham, which are structured as repayable loans and are unlikely to be affected. United say they will comply with all legislative requirements.
