A CONCERT ticket levy could make Glasgow the most expensive place in the UK for outdoor concerts, a leading promoter has warned.

The SNP administration wants to charge a £2.50 per ticket tax to raise money in the budget.

But DF Concerts, which is behind some of the events which would be affected, said it is a bad move.

Geoff Ellis, DF Concerts chief executive, said: “The extra charges for concerts in the Glasgow City Council budget will ultimately have a negative impact on the city’s economy, with promoters facing increased operating costs and fans facing increasing ticket prices.

“Promoters already pay substantial sums to use greenfield spaces in Glasgow, in addition to other operational costs including environmental maintenance, policing, medical services, cleaning, stewarding, welfare, staging and power.

Glasgow Times:
Geoff Ellis

“Glasgow’s parks could become the most expensive venues in the UK to hold events and with the charges seeming to apply almost exclusively to music events, ultimately, it is music fans who will suffer.”

The council said the charge will raise £650,000 a year from events like TRNSMT, Summer Sessions and Kelvingrove Summer Nights, and £150,000 would be ring-fenced for parks.

But Mr Ellis said the charge could backfire. He said: “An additional ticket charge will potentially deter promoters from using Glasgow parks and deter people from attending events, all while reducing the number of visitors to the city.”