Oasis tickets slowly sold out after a chaotic general sale for their 2025 tour but fans are furious over ‘in demand’ elevated ticket prices.
While a seat to the Oasis reunion — after 16 years of feuding — has been the hottest ticket around, sales were plagued by complaints about inflated prices.
Those purchasing through Ticketmaster later in Saturday’s manic scramble for tickets were confronted with £150 standing tickets suddenly costing over £350.
This was due to a controversial setting, which meant the more in-demand tickets became, the more expensive they were.
Fans have been outraged by the decision, taking to social media to lash out at Ticketmaster as well as Noel and Liam Gallagher (who chose to opt into the dynamic pricing).
Now, the Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, has weighed in on the ‘depressing’ landscape when it comes to purchasing gig tickets, from scalpers to inflated official ticket prices.
In a statement made on Sunday evening, she said: ‘After the incredible news of Oasis’ return, it’s depressing to see vastly inflated prices excluding ordinary fans from having a chance of enjoying their favourite band live.
‘This Government is committed to putting fans back at the heart of music. So we will include issues around the transparency and use of dynamic pricing, including the technology around queuing systems which incentivise it, in our forthcoming consultation on consumer protections for ticket resales.
‘Working with artists, industry and fans we can create a fairer system that ends the scourge of touts, rip-off resales and ensures tickets at fair prices.’
According to the MailOnline, Ticketmaster has said the extra money from the inflated prices for Oasis tickets will go to the band.
Other MPs have weighed in on the mess, including Labour’s Zarah Sultana who simply wrote: ‘Nationalise Ticketmaster.’
Fellow Labour MP for St Helens North, David Baines, raged on X about the price hikes: ‘After rightly criticising those who got pre-sale tickets and then immediately tried to resell them for huge profits, it’s shocking to hear that Ticketmaster UK are now using dynamic pricing’ to fleece fans and rake in the cash.’
Meanwhile, Irish MEP Regina Doherty has called for a probe into pricing for the two Dublin concerts, branding it ‘unfair’.
Siblings Liam, 51, and Noel, 57, had traded savage barbs about each other for more than a decade before confirming their reunion last week.
Shows outside Europe for Oasis Live 25 will be confirmed at a later date.
A Government spokeswoman said in a statement to PA: ‘Everyone deserves a fair chance to see their favourite artists live, that is why vendors are required by law to be transparent about their ticket prices.
‘We want to go further to put fans back at the heart of music, and will bring in protections to stop people being ripped off by touts.’
Consumer rights and unfair trading regulation can also be enforced to tackle the issue.
There has also been urging for the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to investigate fans being quoted 415.50 euro (£349.83) each for standing tickets, originally list at 86.50 euro (£72.83) plus booking fees for the Manchester rockers’ gigs at Dublin’s Croke Park.
Irish MEP Regina Doherty said the ‘in-demand’ pricing structure needed to be examined and urged the watchdog to launch a probe.