The highly anticipated Oasis comeback tour has sold out all 17 dates across the UK and Ireland, marking a triumphant return for the iconic British band after a 15-year hiatus. However, the ticket sales process has sparked intense debate and criticism among fans, particularly due to the use of dynamic pricing, which has now prompted government intervention.
Ticketmaster's implementation of "dynamic pricing," where prices rise in line with demand, led to significant price surges. Some tickets escalated from an initial £135 to over £350 as demand peaked. This practice, while legal under consumer protection laws, left many fans feeling frustrated and priced out.
In response to the controversy, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced that the government will investigate the use of dynamic pricing as part of a broader review into ticket sales practices. Nandy stated it was "depressing to see vastly inflated prices excluding ordinary fans" from gigs and outlined that the review would examine "issues around the transparency and use of dynamic pricing, including the technology around queuing systems which incentivise it."
Rachael Board from Devon reported paying £495 for a ticket, far exceeding her intended budget of £150. "I'll be stuck paying it off on the credit card," she said, adding that she doesn't get "any extras" despite paying a higher price.
Ticketmaster defended the practice, stating that prices are set "by artists and their management." The ticketing company confirmed that fans did not receive any additional benefits for the increased prices.
The band's popularity was evident as hundreds of thousands of fans queued online, with some facing over a million people ahead of them for London's Wembley Stadium shows. Technical issues further complicated the process, with some users reporting being mistakenly identified as bots and kicked out of the queue.
Despite the challenges, some fans successfully secured tickets. Nayat Karakose, 41, from Istanbul, described feeling "supersonic" after obtaining pre-sale tickets for Wembley.
Concerns about ticket reselling have also emerged, with some tickets appearing on secondary markets for over £6,000 – roughly 40 times face value. Oasis has warned that resold tickets from unofficial sources will be cancelled.
The reunion tour marks a reconciliation between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, whose infamous feud led to the band's breakup in 2009. As excitement builds, Oasis's back catalogue has surged in popularity, with three albums re-entering the UK top five charts.
The controversy surrounding the ticket sales has prompted calls for greater regulation. The UK government has announced plans for a consultation on ticket resale prices and measures against "rip-off" touts, scheduled for autumn. This review will now also encompass the practice of dynamic pricing, signaling a potential shift in how concert tickets are sold and priced in the future.
* The BBC contributed to this article.
