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Oasis, the British rock band that defined the Britpop era of the 1990s, has always been a cultural icon. When news broke of their reunion tour across the UK and Ireland next year, fans were eager to witness one of the world’s iconic bands in person. After a 15-year hiatus, many hoped for a nostalgic experience that would recapture the spirit of the band’s heyday.
Roll with It? The Ticketing Issue Behind the Oasis Reunion
Amidst the anticipation of the reunion of a legendary band, the issue of its concert ticket pricing has cast a shadow over the whole excitement. The fiasco saw hundreds of thousands of fans, whose anticipation had reached a fever pitch, face delays and anxious long waits to try and get tickets for their massive reunion shows. The disappointment was palpable.
Many fans had terrible experiences due to Ticketmaster’s ticketing system. Some paid more than £350 for tickets with a face value of less than £150 and had to make a split-second decision to purchase, as dynamic pricing caused prices to rise during the booking process.
Ticketmaster: Dynamic Pricing Issue
According to BBC, Ticketmaster defines its dynamic pricing as the sale price of tickets “may increase or decrease at any time, based on demand.
The pricing strategy is similar to how airline tickets and hotel rooms are sold. However, the company has said it does not set prices and is down to the “event organiser,” who “has priced these tickets according to their market value.”
Which? Calls for Refunds in Oasis Ticketmaster Pricing Scandal
Which?, the consumer rights organisation, is demanding that Oasis and Ticketmaster refund the difference to fans who paid inflated prices for the band’s reunion tour tickets. The group alleges that Ticketmaster’s lack of transparency regarding its “in-demand” pricing model may have violated consumer protection laws.
The Dynamic Pricing Could Possible Breach of Consumer Law
Even though it’s not a new phenomenon and is not illegal, the Competition and Markets Authority is investigating whether Ticketmaster breached consumer protection law.
Under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs), businesses are prohibited from misleading consumers about pricing or omitting essential information that could influence purchasing decisions. The CPRs also outlaw specific practices, such as bait advertising, where consumers are lured in with attractive prices that may not be available.
Which? argues that Ticketmaster’s “in-demand” pricing for Oasis tickets could have breached the CPRs. Many fans were unaware of the significant price increases until they attempted to add cheaper tickets to their baskets, suggesting a lack of transparency. The organisation believes that consumers should be fully informed about pricing before purchasing.
Oasis blamed promoters, Ticketmaster and the band’s management team, saying it had “at no time had any awareness” of the selling strategy.
On September 5, the UK competition regulator launched an investigation into the sale of Oasis tickets, including using “dynamic pricing”. The government also said it would include the controversial practice in a consultation into ticket resale websites, which had already been announced.
According to the Guardian, a spokesperson for Ticketmaster said: “We are committed to cooperating with the Competition and Markets Authority and look forward to sharing more facts about the ticket sale with them.”
Oasis Announced New Dates in the UK
To compensate, Oasis has announced two more dates at Wembley Stadium using a new ticketing plan following the dynamic pricing chaos. A “special, staggered, invitation-only” ballot for tickets for the extra Wembley gigs will not use the “dynamic pricing”.
On September 7, the band confirmed the details of their communication plan. They assured fans that they would receive an ‘invitation’ to enter a private ballot, and those who logged into their Ticketmaster account on Saturday, August 31 and joined a queue for a specific show would be contacted by email overnight on Saturday with details on how to register for the ballot. This transparency ensures that fans are kept in the loop.
The ballot date has not been announced but is designed to enable verified fans who did not get a ticket in Ticketmaster’s original pre-order ballot to try again. All those eligible to buy tickets – with up to 180,000 available over two nights at the UK’s most prominent venue – were contacted over the past weekend.
Pricing has not been released, but before the original pre-sale ballot, promoters said standing tickets cost about £150, while standard seated tickets would range from £73 to about £205.
Industry experts estimate the reunion: Oasis Live ’25 is estimated to generate more than £400 million, with an income for Noel and Liam of more than £50 million each.
