Ticketmaster cancels Oasis tickets for thousands of fans
A ticketing nightmare? Fans left frustrated as tickets were cancelled after being accused as bots.
Ticketmaster’s latest Oasis tour controversy
The Oasis 25’ reunion is set to be one of the biggest events in the UK’s live music scene this year. Unfortunately for some fans, Ticketmaster has stripped them of their tickets. Reports suggest Ticketmaster has voided thousands of tickets across multiple venues, alleging that they were purchased by bots.
Several dedicated fans claim otherwise, raising major concerns for concert goers over Ticketmaster’s policies.
Fans devastated as tickets get pulled
Over the weekend, many Oasis fans received emails from Ticketmaster informing them that their tickets had been cancelled, claiming that “bots were used to make this purchase”. Ticketmaster stated that fans could submit a form to dispute the decision, but the lack of transparency has left many feeling frustrated.
Some affected fans had purchased their tickets months in advance, spending hundreds or even thousands, on premium seats, travel, and accommodation. For instance, Leighah Conroy described the experience as “totally out of order” as she “tried all day to get the tickets”.
Leighah Conroy, 24, from Cumbria
It gets worse for Marta from Spain who spent over £3000 on tickets, hotels, and flights for her family. She initially believed the cancellation email was a scam as she usually buys her tickets through Ticketmaster, stating, “How can I trust this page, which is supposed to be the official page? I really can’t believe what has happened.”
Who’s behind the cancellations?
While Ticketmaster issued the cancellation notices, reports suggest it was likely sent on behalf of the tour promoters who have ties to Ticketmaster parent company, Live Nation. It remains unclear whether Oasis or their management were involved in the decision.
Fans demand answers
Ticketmaster have offered little by way of a solution for the struggling fans who had their tickets wrongly cancelled.
“Anyone who has been contacted and believes a refund was made in error has been sent a form to fill in for the tour’s promoters to review”.
Ticketmaster spokesperson
However, fans feel that this response falls short. Ms. Conroy called the lack of answers “totally outrageous,” as fans have been left in the dark as to why this has happened. Ms. Bonnet acknowledged the need to combat bots but believes the wrong people are being punished.
“There must be another way to take control of this situation, which is not to take [it out on] all the people that are buying the tickets in a legal form.”
Marta Bonnet, a fan from Spain
A wider industry issue
The controversy comes at a time when ticket prices and resale practices are under intense scrutiny. The UK government has been evaluating ticketing regulations, and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into Ticketmaster’s handling of Oasis ticket sales last September.
With ticket prices continuing to soar and resale platforms profiting off of demand, this situation only highlights the wider problem within the industry. While combating bots is essential, wrongly penalising genuine fans only further erodes trust in the ticket system. As the debating around ticketing practices continues, one thing remains clear- fans deserve better.