Backing Gloucester Sports Fans
Why I Am Supporting the Sporting Events Bill
Sport is a cornerstone of our community in Gloucester. Whether its gathering at Kingsholm Stadium, running along the canal, or supporting our local grassroots clubs. This week, the Government brought the Sporting Events Bill to Parliament. This legislation fulfils our manifesto commitment to deliver world-class sporting events, while making sure their social and economic benefits reach local communities across the country.
Protecting Fans from Rip-Off Ticket Touts
Every fan knows the frustration of missing out on major match tickets, only to see them appear minutes later on secondary websites at extortionate prices. The Sporting Events Bill creates a criminal offence for the unauthorised resale of sporting event tickets. By outlawing touting practices, we are protecting family budgets and ensuring genuine supporters have fair access to the events they love.
Key Measures in the Sporting Events Bill
The Bill introduces a reliable, standard framework for major international tournaments hosted across the UK:
Fair Ticket Access: Criminalising the unauthorized resale of tickets to deter touts.
Event Zone Protections: Restricting unauthorised commercial trading and predatory ambush marketing around major event sites.
Taxpayer Value: Streamlining tournament preparation to deliver estimated government savings of £5 million over 10 years.
Dedicated Legacy Powers: Creating statutory funding powers for the Secretary of State to fund cultural, legacy, and physical activity programmes linked to major tournaments.
What This Means for Gloucester
Through the Bill’s legacy funding powers, I will be campaigning for:
Investment in Local Facilities: Securing grant funding to upgrade community grass pitches, artificial turf, and youth training facilities across Gloucester.
Expanding Youth Participation: Providing resources for our local volunteer-led clubs to engage more young people in team sports.
Regional Tourism and Pride: Positioning Gloucester, with its rich sporting heritage, as a national and regional base for sports.
I will continue working in Parliament to make sure Gloucester’s sporting voice is heard at every stage of this legislation.