Oasis Ticket Resale Chaos: Prices Soar Amid Reunion Tour Hype
Oasis fans have been eagerly awaiting the band’s long-anticipated comeback, but the excitement has been overshadowed by controversy surrounding ticket resales. Shortly after a limited batch of tickets went on pre-sale on Friday evening, listings appeared online with prices soaring to as much as £6,000—around 40 times the face value of a standing ticket. Despite warnings from the band and their promoters, eager fans and ticket touts quickly flooded resale websites, leading to concerns about inflated prices and potential scams.
The initial pre-sale offered fans a three-hour window to secure tickets, but the situation quickly spiraled out of control. Many tickets were snapped up and almost immediately listed on resale platforms such as StubHub and Viagogo, sparking outrage among fans who were hoping to see Oasis for the first time in over a decade. Promoters have made it clear that tickets purchased through unauthorised channels could be cancelled, urging fans to use only official resale platforms like Ticketmaster and Twickets, where tickets can only be resold at face value.
Consumer law expert Lisa Webb from Which? has warned fans to steer clear of purchasing tickets from unauthorised sources. She highlighted the risk of scams and reiterated that even legitimate tickets sold at inflated prices or outside authorised platforms could be rendered invalid. Meanwhile, Adam Webb from the FanFair Alliance, an organisation that campaigns against ticket touting, called for government intervention to protect consumers. He pointed out that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had previously suggested capping resale prices, a move that many hope will gain traction.
The ticket resale issue isn’t just about money; it touches on broader concerns about accessibility to live events. Starmer’s recent comments emphasised the need for cultural experiences to be accessible to all, not dictated by the actions of ticket touts. Fans’ frustration has been palpable, particularly as resale prices have reached staggering levels: £6,000 for the London show at Wembley Stadium, over £4,000 for standing tickets at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium, and upwards of £2,500 for the band’s homecoming concert in Manchester.
As the general ticket sales opened in Ireland at 08:00 BST, with UK sales starting an hour later, promoters announced that about 1.4 million tickets would be available for the 17 outdoor concerts scheduled across the UK and Ireland next summer. Despite the efforts to keep ticket prices reasonable, the demand has been unprecedented, prompting organisers to add extra dates to the originally announced 14 concerts.
The Oasis reunion has been one of the most highly anticipated music events in recent memory. The band, known for their iconic hits and tumultuous history, officially split in 2009 following a backstage altercation in Paris. But recent announcements from brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher confirmed they have put their differences aside for a series of gigs next year. The news has sparked a resurgence in the band’s popularity, with three of their classic albums re-entering the top five of the UK charts.
Oasis have taken a strong stance against unauthorised ticket resales, reiterating that any tickets sold in breach of terms and conditions will be cancelled. Viagogo, one of the platforms at the centre of the controversy, defended its practices, stating that ticket resale is legal in the UK and arguing that restrictions on resale options harm fans by limiting their choices.
The ticketing chaos has only added to the growing debate around the secondary ticket market and the need for tighter regulations to protect consumers. With Oasis tickets continuing to be a hot commodity, fans are left to navigate the murky waters of resale platforms, hoping that their prized tickets don’t fall foul of the band’s stringent resale rules.
For those looking to purchase tickets to Oasis’s highly anticipated reunion tour, make sure to visit the official resale platforms like Ticketmaster or Twickets to avoid inflated prices and ensure your tickets remain valid.
