S Poddar
Oasis and Ticketmaster are coming under pressure to refund scores of fans who paid inflated prices for tickets to the group’s long-awaited reunion tour. The consumer group Which? called on refunds for thousands of fans it said felt blindsided by sudden price hikes trying to buy tickets.
The news of Oasis’s return for a 2025 tour from Liam and Noel Gallagher sent shockwaves of excitement in all directions. For many fans trying to buy a ticket, though, that excitement quickly turned to frustration. Some paid as much as £355 for tickets that had a price tag of £148 on Ticketmaster’s website. These surprise surges in prices have caused an outcry from the public and an investigation by both the UK government and the country’s competition watchdog.
Which? has been collecting evidence from those affected, asking fans to send in screenshots of the ticket-buying process. It wants to see whether Ticketmaster warned users that prices could increase if there is high demand for tickets – a process called dynamic pricing. Which? said many fans provided screenshots where the price they had been presented with was replaced at the last minute with a far higher price.
One fan shared a picture of standing tickets for the Heaton Park show that was advertised at £148.50 but jumped to £337.50 because of “in demand” pricing. Which? says although dynamic pricing is mentioned in Ticketmaster’s terms and conditions, fans were not clearly made aware that the practice would be applied with Oasis tickets specifically. The decision came as a shock for many, since the lack of transparency regarding the price issue made it appear as if they were trying to dupe the fans, who had come to know about the higher price only after trying to purchase the cheaper variants.
The CPRs are designed to protect consumers from businesses regarding the prices of goods or services or any other information that might affect their decision to buy something. In that perspective, Which? Says that surprise price hikes might be a breach of consumer protection laws.
Lisa Webb, consumer law expert from Which?
Complained thus: “It seems extremely unfair that Oasis fans, keen enough to get up early and fight through the virtual queues, ended up paying over twice the advertised ticket price. Which? thinks that Ticketmaster’s ‘in demand’ pricing for Oasis tickets may have broken consumer law, as fans were not adequately warned about this practice until it was too late in the buying process.”
It has attracted the interest of the Competition and Markets Authority, which launched an inquiry into the use of dynamic pricing by Ticketmaster. This will confirm whether such a sale of tickets had violated the laws on consumer protection. While Ticketmaster has insisted it does not set ticket prices-and that it’s the responsibility of event organizers-the lack of clarity over potential price fluctuation has led to general frustration. Though Oasis has said they were not involved in deciding to implement dynamic pricing for their tour. The band as a whole has not issued a public comment on the growing demands for refunds. Liam Gallagher did refer to the situation on his social media.
He then tweeted, “I’m seriously gutted for people that can’t get tickets. I can’t even go there-it hurts my heart, and I know people will think I’m taking the piss, but I’m not.”
The furor over the ticket prices has revived debates about the equity of dynamic pricing practices in the entertainment industry. Dynamic pricing-a practice where the price is determined by the rule of demand-is a common feature in industries such as travel and sports, but its application to live events has become increasingly contentious. Critics say it provides a way for event organizers and ticket sellers to take undue advantage of the enthusiasm of fans by charging exorbitant prices for highly sought-after tickets.
Which? has pledged to share its findings with the CMA and continues to campaign on behalf of affected fans. The consumer group thinks that Oasis and Ticketmaster should refund those who were caught cold by the surprise price rises. “Oasis and Ticketmaster should do the right thing and refund fans who may have been misled into paying over the odds for tickets that were half the price just hours earlier,” Webb said. Adding further to the tension, Oasis recently extended their Live ’25 tour, announcing a second and third Wembley Stadium date on 27 and 28 September. These have been advertised as the band’s last ever appearances at the iconic venue, putting even more pressure on demand for tickets. Over the weekend, Oasis issued private invitations for a ballot system where some fans could get tickets for the newly added dates.
This, however, has only slightly eased the frustration of those who have already paid inflated prices for previous shows. With an inquiry still under way, both fans and consumer advocates are awaiting word of what actions may-or will-be taken against Ticketmaster, and if Oasis will intervene to right the situation. For now, though, the ticketing controversy serves as an especially stark reminder of the obstacles this show’s fans have endured in pursuit of seats for the big-name events.
