Oasis break silence on dynamic ticket pricing controversy for reunion tour

  1. Home
  2. Audio
Oasis break silence on dynamic ticket pricing controversy for reunion tour. Credit: Publicity picture, Simon Emmett

Oasis break silence on dynamic ticket pricing controversy for reunion tour. Credit: Publicity picture, Simon Emmett

Oasis have finally addressed the backlash to the dynamic pricing that was introduced when their reunion tour dates went on sale last week.

The group, fronted by Liam and Noel Gallagher, are set to play 19 shows across the UK and Ireland, after adding two extra Wembley Stadium gigs last night.

When tickets for the original shows went on sale last Saturday, demand was so great that several ticketing platforms crashed and people spent up to six hours in virtual queues.

And then as the day wore on, Ticketmaster suddenly utilised ‘dynamic pricing’, removing the general admission tickets from sale and replacing them with ‘in-demand tickets’.

With that came a jump in price from £148.50 to £355.20. Ouch.

Oasis have faced a lot of criticism for the use of dynamic pricing – but in a new statement, they have stressed that they did not have ‘any awareness’ that it would be used.

They said that decisions on both pricing and ticketing are ‘left entirely to their promoters and management’.

Oasis said in a statement released on their behalf yesterday: “As for the well reported complaints many buyers had over the operation of 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.”

As for those final two Wembley shows going on sale, Oasis has said that tickets will be sold by an ‘invitation-only ballot process’ to manage the phenomenal demand.

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

Read more

Featured image: Simon Emmett