Ford wants to revisit ending ticket scalping amid Blue Jays ‘gouging’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he wants to look into options to tackle scalping, including potential legislation, as Toronto Blue Jays ticket prices skyrocket.

As Toronto Blue Jays tickets are resold for thousands of dollars, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his government may revive anti-scalping legislation it previously killed shortly after assuming office.

“My personal opinion, going to talk to the whole team, they’re gouging the people,” he told reporters on Wednesday afternoon. “We have one player in the market that controls the tickets, that’s not right for the people.”

Asked if he’d consider legislation specifically, Ford said his government would look at the option.

Ford’s comments come a day after Blue Jays World Series tickets went on sale on Ticketmaster. Less than two hours after sales began, tickets were being listed for sale for more than $2,000. 

On Tuesday, a single ticket in section 135 in the Rogers Centre for Game 1 was priced at $4,954. The lowest individual ticket found was in section 510 for $1,723, taxes included.

The prices caused uproar on social media, with many Jays fans questioning why a ticket could be purchased within minutes and potentially put back on the market for a significantly higher cost than it was likely purchased for.

The anger over price resales is not new, with anger erupting last year during Taylor Swift’s Eras tour which saw similar ticket prices and frustration.

Ford’s government previously scrapped part of a law that would have capped ticket resale prices at 50 per cent above the original face value.