Manchester United’s proposal to introduce personal seat licences (PSLs) as part of funding a £2bn Old Trafford redevelopment has been jeopardised by the UK government’s new anti-touting measures.
The PSL model being explored by United would allow licence holders to resell match or season tickets at a profit — something ministers now plan to outlaw. New legislation, set for next year’s king’s speech, will prohibit reselling sports or music tickets above face value. While football ticket touting is already illegal under the 1994 Criminal Justice Act, government sources say they would oppose any attempt by United to create a secondary market through PSLs.
United have been consulting supporters through a large-scale survey run by CSL International. PSLs would give fans the long-term right to buy a specific seat but wouldn’t include the season ticket itself. Only premium seats are expected to be available under the scheme.
In US sports, PSLs are common and can be sold on at a profit — sometimes for large sums. United’s consultation reportedly included this resale feature, but the new rules could force the club to rethink pricing and strategy, with suggested fees as high as £4,000 for a 30-year licence.
While debentures used at places like Wimbledon and Twickenham include loan repayments and may be exempt from new restrictions, United’s PSLs would not fall into that category. The club has said only that it will comply with all legislation, but the crackdown could significantly reshape the project.
