The Aviva Stadium in Dublin has been confirmed as a designated venue under Ireland’s Sale of Tickets Act 2021.
This means that all rugby and football games that take place at the stadium will be covered by the new bill, with the new designated status coming into effect yesterday (Thursday).
The Sale of Tickets Act criminalises the resale of tickets for a price more than face value at designated venues and events. The Act is also in place to help regulate the secondary ticket market and was passed in July this year.
For those that try to sell tickets above face value will carry a penalty for infringement of up to €100,000 (£84k/$116k) or even a two-year stint in prison.
In a statement to RTE, an Irish Rugby Football Union spokesperson said: “The Aviva Stadium company applied for designation, as a designated venue under the Sale of Tickets Act 2021.
“This application is for all ticketed events at the Aviva Stadium, including football and rugby. Designation has been confirmed.
“The message to all supporters remains clear – do not buy tickets from unofficial ticket sources.”
The Football Association of Ireland had also applied for designation after tickets for an upcoming football match between Ireland and Portugal appeared online for up to three times the original price.
To apply for designation under the new law means that events have to meet two criteria – the venue in which the event is taking place must hold at least 1,000 customers and the organiser must believe that the event will be of sufficient demand that ticket touts would be tempted.
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