Oasis fans experienced widespread frustration and disappointment on August 31, 2024, as they attempted to secure tickets for the band’s highly anticipated 2025 reunion tour. The sale, which began at 9 AM BST in the UK and an hour earlier in Ireland, was marred by technical issues, lengthy virtual queues, and unexpected price increases.Ticketing platforms, including Ticketmaster and Gigs and Tours, struggled to cope with the overwhelming demand, with millions of fans accessing the sites simultaneously. Despite Ticketmaster’s assurances that their site was functioning and ‘millions of fans were in a virtual queue’, many users reported being kicked out of the queue or receiving error messages after hours of waiting.Adding to the frustration, some fans who managed to reach the final stages of the purchasing process discovered that ticket prices had dramatically increased. One fan reported on social media that prices had jumped from £148 to £355 due to ‘high demand’. This sudden price hike left many questioning the fairness of the process, with one user asking, ‘How is this not illegal?’.The band had previously warned against purchasing tickets from unofficial reselling websites, emphasizing that tickets could only be resold at face value through authorized platforms like Ticketmaster and Twickets. However, despite these warnings, some tickets appeared on secondary markets for exorbitant prices, reaching up to £8,000 (approximately €9,500) on sites like Viagogo.The tour, which includes 17 dates across the UK and Ireland starting July 4, 2025, in Cardiff, is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the host cities. Sacha Lord, Manchester’s nighttime economy adviser, highlighted the importance of the band’s homecoming gigs, stating, ‘When they set foot on that stage for the first time, it’s going to be a really special moment’.As the dust settles on the chaotic ticket sale, fans who were unable to secure tickets are left hoping for additional dates or releases. Meanwhile, those who succeeded, like barista Isabelle Doyle, expressed their excitement, with Doyle saying she was ‘over the moon’. The reunion tour marks the end of a 15-year hiatus for Oasis, following the band’s breakup in 2009 due to ongoing disputes between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher.
Key points
- Millions of Oasis fans faced technical issues and long queues while trying to purchase reunion tour tickets.
- Some fans reported dramatic ticket price increases during the sale process, from £148 to £355.
- Despite warnings, tickets appeared on secondary markets for up to £8,000, prompting concerns about scalping.
- The tour is expected to bring significant economic benefits to host cities, particularly Manchester.
Contradictions👾Ticketmaster claimed their site was functioning properly, while many fans reported being kicked out of queues or receiving error messages.
👾Oasis warned against reselling tickets at inflated prices, yet tickets appeared on secondary markets for exorbitant amounts.
