The iconic Britpop band Oasis, led by brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, is back on tour for the first time since their split, headlining an ambitious 2025 World Tour. The highly anticipated UK and Ireland leg of the tour quickly sold out all 17 dates, but not without controversy. Fans experienced major issues during ticket sales, with many being identified as bots, enduring lengthy queues, and encountering dynamic pricing that nearly doubled ticket costs.
Oasis Responds to Ticketing Chaos with New Wembley Shows
In response to the backlash surrounding the initial ticket sales, Oasis announced two additional concerts at Wembley Stadium scheduled for September 27 and 28 next summer. The band emphasized that they had no role in the controversial price hikes and revealed that tickets for these shows would be available through a ballot system to make the process more equitable for fans.
Private Ballot System Announced for Additional Wembley Tickets
Tonight, Oasis detailed how eligible fans can access tickets via a “private ballot.” According to the band, fans who logged into their Ticketmaster UK accounts on August 31, joined the queue for a show but were unable to secure a ticket, will receive an email invitation with instructions on registering for the ballot. The band urged fans to keep an eye on the inbox associated with their Ticketmaster account and to check their spam or junk folders just in case.
Fans who receive the email invitation will be entered into the ballot for a code that will grant access to ticket sales for the additional Wembley dates. The band noted that tickets would be “strictly limited” and only accessible to those invited. They added, “You must register with the email to which your invitation was sent and which is registered with your Ticketmaster account.”
Fans Frustrated with Ticketmaster’s Continued Involvement
While the announcement of more ticket opportunities brought some relief, many fans expressed frustration with the continued use of Ticketmaster, whose system failures and dynamic pricing sparked outrage during the initial sale. One fan criticized the ongoing partnership, stating, “Nothing for the fans who couldn’t even get signed into their Ticketmaster accounts because they were stuck in a queue to get on the website.”
Another fan pleaded, “Please stop using Ticketmaster,” while a third questioned, “What about all those of us that were trying for Manchester dates and got done over by Ticketmaster? Please put some additional Manchester dates on!” The confusion was palpable as some fans struggled to understand the ballot process, with one commenting, “This still confuses me. So… just do nothing for now and see if we are invited or do we still need to sign something beforehand?”
Further criticism was directed at the bot detection measures, as one fan noted, “But Ticketmaster still thinks I’m a bot.” Others expressed dismay at their lengthy wait times during the initial sale, saying, “Guess signing up for the presale (unsuccessfully) and queuing for 7 hours does not qualify you as a ‘real fan’.”
Band Stands by Ballot System Amid Fan Backlash
Despite the backlash, Oasis defended their decision to utilize the ballot system. They reiterated their commitment to providing fairer access to tickets and clarified, “Two extra Wembley Stadium shows have been added due to phenomenal demand. Tickets will be sold by a staggered, invitation-only ballot process. Applications to join the ballot will be opened first to the many UK fans who were unsuccessful in the initial on sale with Ticketmaster.”
Oasis has opted to continue using Ticketmaster for the additional dates, despite See Tickets and Gigs and Tours also serving as official sellers during the initial ticket release. Some fans reported seeing standing ticket prices surge from an expected £148.50 to as high as £355 due to Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing model.
Ticketmaster Faces Probe Amid Ongoing Pricing Controversy
The ongoing ticketing saga has drawn the attention of the Competition and Markets Authority, which is now investigating Ticketmaster to determine whether its practices violated consumer protection laws. Liam Gallagher addressed the controversy earlier this week, bluntly responding to the uproar by telling fans to “shut up.”
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