The Oasis ticket sales process has come under fire as prices surged while fans queued online, leading to frustration and anger among many concert-goers. Despite the chaos, the boss of a ticketing industry body has defended the process, attributing the price increases to the band themselves.
Fans like Rachael Board from Devon woke up feeling “completely ripped off” after paying £495 for a ticket, far exceeding the £150 she had budgeted for. Many others experienced similar sticker shock as prices continued to rise during the sale on Saturday.
Jonathan Brown, chief executive of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers, praised ticketing websites for handling the “enormous demand” for Oasis tickets, emphasizing that prices were set by the band. However, the surge pricing, where prices rise in line with demand, sparked criticism from fans who felt they were being taken advantage of.
Despite the challenges, hundreds of thousands of fans waited online for the chance to see Oasis live again, 15 years after the group disbanded. Government minister Lucy Powell was among those who braved the queue, eventually purchasing tickets for more than she had expected to pay.
While some defended surge pricing as a market-driven mechanism, others criticized it as unfair and greedy. The issue of ticket touting, where secondary sites sell tickets at inflated prices, also raised concerns during the sales process.
As Oasis announced their reunion and sold out their comeback tour, the ticketing industry faced scrutiny not only for pricing practices but also for a data breach suffered by Ticketmaster in June. The Information Commissioner’s Office is now investigating the breach, where hackers claimed to have stolen the personal details of millions of customers.
Despite the challenges and controversies surrounding the ticket sales process, fans remain eager to see Oasis back on stage, marking a highly anticipated return for the iconic band.
