The much-anticipated Oasis reunion tour, set for 2025, has ignited a frenzy among fans, leading to chaotic scenes online as hundreds of thousands struggled to secure tickets. The band’s announcement on August 27, 2024, of their first live performances in 16 years created a massive wave of excitement, quickly turning into frustration as fans encountered numerous issues during the ticket sale process.
On the morning of August 31, tickets for Oasis Live ’25 went on sale, but the overwhelming demand quickly overwhelmed the Ticketmaster website. Fans hoping to secure seats for concerts in major venues like Manchester’s Heaton Park, London’s Wembley Stadium, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Dublin’s Croke Park, and Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium found themselves stuck in virtual queues, some stretching into the hundreds of thousands. At one point, over 500,000 people were reportedly in line for tickets to the Dublin shows alone, while more than 200,000 queued for Wembley.
Many fans took to social media to voice their frustrations, sharing experiences of encountering “Error 503” pages, website crashes, and being kicked out of the queue entirely. Some even reported being labeled as “bots” by Ticketmaster, leading to canceled purchases and further dismay.
Waiting in the queue for oasis tickets like
Ticketmaster Wembley Heaton Park pic.twitter.com/jyyAeii8Tr
— Barney Weston (@ftblforfuturebw) August 31, 2024
Ticketmaster responded, urging fans to hold their place in line, avoid using multiple tabs, and clear cookies to prevent issues. Despite the company’s reassurances that the queue was moving and that tickets were still available, the overwhelming demand led to significant delays and a highly competitive atmosphere, with many fans unable to secure tickets despite hours of waiting.
Everyone trying to get on the Oasis Ticketmaster Queue.#Oasis25 pic.twitter.com/oEZJLhzNg4
— . (@punniebugger) August 31, 2024
Adding to the frustration, fans discovered that ticket prices were subject to dynamic pricing, a practice where prices fluctuate based on demand. While general admission tickets were initially listed at around £150, as the standard tickets were quickly snapped up, the so-called “In Demand Standing” tickets appeared, with prices soaring to upwards of £400. This led to outrage among fans who saw little difference between these tickets and the originally priced ones.
Funny that, with all the talk of tickets only to be sold at face value etc that #ticketmaster themselves are actually the biggest touts #oasis #Oasis25 pic.twitter.com/XXMzFLw1rg
— Keith Lee (@KeithRichardLee) August 31, 2024
Dynamic pricing, which Ticketmaster described as a market-based approach similar to airline tickets and hotel rooms, left many fans feeling gouged, with some tickets reaching as high as £488 for standing spots. The implementation of this pricing strategy has been a controversial topic in recent years, particularly as it applies to high-demand events like the Oasis reunion.
This is problematic guys 😑😑
It’s disgraceful to see standing tickets priced at £355.20—pure exploitation. They should be ashamed, turning fan excitement into a money grab. This greed is ruining what should be a joyful experience.
#Ticketmaster #Oasis #Oasis25 #oasisreunion… pic.twitter.com/gACwdV4qZN
— ꜱᴜʙʜʀᴀ✰ (@subhra__18) August 31, 2024
Despite warnings from Oasis and Ticketmaster, tickets quickly appeared on secondary markets like Viagogo, with some listings reaching as high as £10,000. The band and Ticketmaster emphasized that tickets sold on these platforms were likely to be canceled, urging fans to use only the official resale platform, Twickets, where tickets are sold at face value plus fees.
We have noticed people attempting to sell tickets on the secondary market since the start of the pre-sale. Please note, tickets can ONLY be resold, at face value, via @Ticketmaster and @Twickets. Tickets sold in breach of the terms and conditions will be canceled by the…
— Oasis (@oasis) August 30, 2024
However, Viagogo defended the legality of reselling tickets, stating that prices are likely to stabilize after the initial rush. This did little to calm fans, who felt the secondary market was taking advantage of the situation, especially given the sky-high prices seen immediately after the tickets went on sale.
The chaotic ticketing process for the Oasis reunion has drawn widespread criticism, not just from fans but also from industry observers. British MP Zarah Sultana was among those whose purchase was suspended due to alleged bot-like behavior, highlighting the broader issues with the ticketing system.
Many fans expressed their disappointment and anger on social media, with some pointing out that there seemed to be little difference between Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing and the actions of ticket scalpers. The trend of dynamic pricing has been increasingly criticized for creating a barrier to access for fans, effectively pricing out many who were initially excited about the reunion.
