Glastonbury Festival: "Not Again!" Fans Frustrated By Resale Market

Rajiv Sharma

5 min read

Post on May 30, 2025

4.8

Share

The Soaring Cost of Glastonbury Tickets on the Resale Market

The price of Glastonbury tickets on the resale market is astronomical, far exceeding the original ticket price and making attendance inaccessible for many loyal fans. This creates a significant barrier to entry for those who have supported the festival for years.

Exorbitant Prices and the Impact on Fans

Resale prices for Glastonbury tickets consistently reach scandalous levels. We've seen examples of tickets originally priced at £300 being resold for over £1000, and even higher in some cases. This dramatic price inflation effectively shuts out many dedicated fans who cannot afford these inflated costs.

• Examples of Inflated Prices: Reports of tickets being listed for five, ten, even twenty times their original value are common across various resale platforms.
• Social Media Outcry: A quick search on Twitter reveals a torrent of frustrated fans venting their anger, using hashtags like #GlastonburyResaleScandal and #FairGlastonburyTickets. Quotes from these posts paint a picture of anger, disappointment and a sense of betrayal. For example, one user tweeted, "Years of trying for Glastonbury tickets, and the resale market makes it impossible for regular people."
• Statistics on Resale Price Increase: While precise data is difficult to obtain, anecdotal evidence and reports suggest an average resale price increase of several hundred percent, making the festival prohibitively expensive for many.

The Role of Ticket Touts and Bots

The problem is exacerbated by the actions of professional ticket touts and sophisticated automated systems (bots). These bots, programmed to snatch up tickets en masse during the official sale, often bypass security measures, leaving genuine fans empty-handed. Ticket touts then resell these tickets at vastly inflated prices, turning a profit from the high demand.

• Bot Technology: Sophisticated algorithms and software are employed to bypass queuing systems and bulk-purchase tickets, leaving little chance for regular fans.
• Legal Gray Areas: The legal landscape surrounding ticket touting is complex, making it difficult to effectively prosecute offenders and deter this practice.
• Scale of the Problem: The scale of bot activity and ticket touting in the Glastonbury ticket resale market is believed to be substantial, contributing significantly to the inflated prices.

The Frustration and Anger of Glastonbury Festival Goers

The high resale prices of Glastonbury tickets are not simply a matter of economics; they represent a significant injustice and exclusion for dedicated fans. Years of loyalty and anticipation can be dashed by the actions of bots and touts.

Loss of Access for Dedicated Fans

Many long-time fans have missed out on attending Glastonbury due to the exorbitant prices on the resale market. This creates a sense of injustice and disenfranchisement among those who have consistently tried to secure tickets through legitimate channels.

• Anecdotes from Fans: Numerous stories highlight fans who have attempted for years, even decades, to secure tickets through official channels, only to be thwarted by the resale market’s inflated prices. This includes stories of families who have a generational tradition of attending the festival, and those who have been saving up for years, only to be disappointed.
• Impact on Community: The high resale prices impact the sense of community and shared experience that is a vital part of the Glastonbury ethos. The festival becomes less accessible to diverse groups of fans, creating a less inclusive environment.

Calls for Greater Regulation and Accountability

The frustration among Glastonbury fans has fueled calls for stricter regulation of the secondary ticket market and increased accountability for the platforms facilitating the resale of tickets.

• Petitions and Campaigns: Several online petitions and campaigns have called for government intervention to regulate the secondary ticketing market and protect consumers.
• Demand for Platform Responsibility: There are calls for platforms like StubHub, Viagogo, and others to take greater responsibility for the prices listed on their sites and implement measures to prevent price gouging. These platforms are often accused of turning a blind eye to the problems of inflated pricing and unethical ticket sales.

Potential Solutions and Alternatives

Tackling the problem of Glastonbury ticket resale requires a multifaceted approach that combines improved security and ethical resale practices.

Strengthening Official Ticket Sales Processes

Improving the official ticket sales process is crucial to preventing bots and touts from acquiring large quantities of tickets.

• Enhanced Security Measures: Implementing more robust security measures, such as advanced CAPTCHAs, more sophisticated queuing systems, and better fraud detection tools, can help limit bot activity.
• Stricter Verification Processes: More rigorous verification processes for ticket purchases can help prevent bulk buying and ensure that tickets reach genuine fans.
• Better Allocation Systems: A more equitable allocation system that prioritises loyal customers or uses a lottery system can also improve fairness.

Promoting Ethical Ticket Resale Platforms

Exploring the possibility of an official or regulated resale platform could offer a solution. This platform would need to implement price caps and ensure fair pricing.

• Successful Models from Other Events: Other large-scale events have explored successful models of regulated resale platforms, which could be adapted to the Glastonbury context.
• Benefits and Challenges: An official resale platform could offer a degree of control, but implementing and regulating it effectively would require significant investment and careful planning.

Conclusion

The Glastonbury Festival ticket resale market remains a significant obstacle to accessibility for many fans. The exorbitant prices charged on secondary ticketing platforms effectively price out loyal attendees, creating an unfair and frustrating system. Addressing this issue demands a multi-pronged approach: stricter regulation, improved official ticketing procedures, and a greater commitment from platforms to ensure fair pricing. By tackling this problem head-on, Glastonbury Festival organisers can protect the integrity of their event and preserve the experience for dedicated fans for years to come. Let's demand a fairer system for obtaining Glastonbury Festival tickets and put an end to the frustration caused by inflated prices on the resale market. Let your voice be heard – campaign for change and help make Glastonbury more accessible for everyone.