Ticketmaster accused of 'price gouging' over £350 Oasis tickets
But the supplier says the price-doubling is not its fault
Last updated 1st Sep 2024
Ticketmaster is being condemned for doubling the price of tickets for the Oasis gigs because they're "in demand".
Fans scrambled on Saturday (31 August) for the chance to watch the Gallagher brothers play next summer in Manchester, as well as London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Dublin.
But after hours of waiting, many found that standing tickets had gone up to £358, from around £150.
"It's touting, protected"
The former footballer Stan Collymore claimed Ticketmaster had behaved unethically. He also suggested that MPs turn a blind eye to the the practice of raising prices in this way, due to freebies from the ticketing industry:
"Politicians are lobbied by ticket companies, it's why you'll often see them at big gigs/sports events.
"The biggest "legal" seller of tickets was able to act as a tout today, with total immunity from the law.
"It's not free market capitalism, it's touting, protected."
Ticketmaster says on its website that it doesn't set prices - it's promoters and artists that have the choice as to whether they adopt "market pricing" - putting the price up when tickets get scarce.
The tickets for the reunion gigs had all sold out by early Saturday evening.
As well as complaints about the price, some fans desperate to see the Noel and Liam reunion say the Ticketmaster website chucked them out when they finally got to the head of the queue.
The ticket seller advised frustrated users who had been waiting for several hours to try another device, and ensure JavaScript was running.
Oasis play Manchester Heaton Park between 11 and 20 July next year.