Industry News

Ticket tax considered to fund Birmingham 2022

The Birmingham City Council is considering a tax on entertainment tickets in a move designed to help the city pay for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The proposed levy would be applied to all tickets for pop concerts, football matches, conferences and major festivals in the West Midlands.

According to Birmingham Live, City Council leader Ian Ward said the ticketing tax is one of the many options put forward to support Birmingham in raising its share of the estimated £750m cost of hosting the Games.

He also noted that the council is in discussions with NEC Group, which owns the Arena Birmingham, The Genting Arena, NEC and ICC and are set to host events during the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

In addition, Ward said that he wants to get Birmingham’s football and cricket clubs involved in the initiative to help the city’s fund raising.

However, it is a hotel tax that Ward said would be most preferred, whereby a small charge would be added per person, per night staying in a Birmingham hotel. 

Ward said: “We are still wanting to talk to Government about piloting a hotel tax, the other of a supplementary business rate is unlikely to get over the line.

“I’ve asked the Government to attach it to the annual finance bill as it is would be just a pilot scheme, but they have not yet responded.

“The other thing that we are talking about, and we are in discussions with the NEC about this is a levy on ticket sales for sporting and entertainment events.

“The key to making that work would be to try to get the football clubs on board.”

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