Northern Ireland

Oasis deny knowing about ticket price hikes for reunion tour gigs

There has been major criticism after concert prices soared when they went on general sale last weekend

Liam and Noel Gallagher have added more Oasis dates
Liam and Noel Gallagher have added more Oasis dates (Joanne Nelson/PA)
By Suzanne McGonagle

Oasis have denied they knew anything about ticket price hikes for their reunion tour gigs following a backlash at the use of dynamic pricing.

The band said that they “at no time had any awareness that dynamic pricing was going to be used”.

It comes amid massive criticism after Oasis concert prices soared when they went on general sale last weekend.

Some fans were shocked when standard tickets for their reunion tour more than doubled on Ticketmaster, prompting the UK government and the UK’s competition watchdog to pledge they will look into the use of dynamic pricing.

The cost of some standing tickets at Croke Park in Dublin increased from €176 on pre-sale to more than €400.

The practice of increasing or decreasing prices based on demand has been compared to the way in which airline tickets and hotel rooms are sold.

The long-awaited Oasis reunion tour has attracted huge attention from fans as it will see Liam and Noel Gallagher on stage together for the first time since their major split in 2009.

On August 31, they revealed the general sale tickets for their forthcoming 17 UK and Ireland gigs had sold out in less than a day, but many fans missed out as they battled website issues and being mislabelled as bots.

But in a statement on Wednesday, the band denied knowing anything about ticket pricing surges.

They said: “As for the well reported complaints many buyers had over the operation of Ticketmaster’s dynamic ticketing: it needs to be made clear that Oasis leave decisions on ticketing and pricing entirely to their promoters and management, and at no time had any awareness that dynamic pricing was going to be used.

“While prior meetings between promoters, Ticketmaster and the band’s management resulted in a positive ticket sale strategy, which would be a fair experience for fans, including dynamic ticketing to help keep general ticket prices down as well as reduce touting, the execution of the plan failed to meet expectations.

“All parties involved did their utmost to deliver the best possible fan experience, but due to the unprecedented demand this became impossible to achieve.”

It came as the group announced two more shows at London’s Wembley stadium.

The band will now play seven concerts at the London stadium, as well as dates in Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Dublin.

“Two extra Wembley Stadium shows have been added due to phenomenal demand,” the announcement said.

“Tickets will be sold by a staggered, invitation-only ballot process.

“Applications to join the ballot will be opened first to the many UK fans who were unsuccessful in the initial on sale with Ticketmaster.”