Oasis fans hit with skyrocketing ticket prices due to dynamic pricing can take legal action against Ticketmaster, according to legal experts.
Fans were stunned when ticket prices for the highly anticipated 2025 reunion tour jumped from £148 to £355 in a matter of hours, sparking outrage and hundreds of complaints.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received 450 complaints, with fans alleging that Ticketmaster’s adverts misled them about both ticket availability and pricing.
READ MORE: State pension set to rise by over £400 next year amid winter fuel payment cuts
Ticketmaster responded by stating that they don’t control the pricing and that ticket costs are determined by the event organizer, with prices reflecting the market value. Dynamic pricing, which allows prices to rise with increased demand, is legal but controversial.
Legal experts, however, suggest that Ticketmaster may have breached consumer law by failing to clearly inform buyers that prices could soar during the sale process.
Richard Pike, a partner at law firm Fieldfisher, pointed out that many fans only realized the price surge after already spending a long time in online queues, which he argued took advantage of their commitment.
While frustrated fans may have a case, Pike also warned that the cost of legal action could outweigh any compensation, which would likely only amount to a few hundred pounds per person.
Oasis tickets for the UK and Ireland dates sold out in under a day, with fans encountering website glitches and being incorrectly flagged as bots. Despite this, international tour dates are still expected, though no further UK shows will be added.
Ticketmaster’s use of dynamic pricing has drawn criticism across the music industry. Oscar Kriek from TicketSwap warned that high prices at major events could reduce people’s ability to afford tickets to other concerts and festivals, negatively impacting the overall leisure industry.
Kriek also noted that while Ticketmaster takes a service fee from sales, the additional revenue from dynamic pricing is split between promoters and artists, meaning Oasis will also profit from the higher prices.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the situation as “incredibly depressing” and vowed that the government would address the issue in its review of the ticket resale market.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is also investigating the ticketing market, aiming to work closely with the government on improving transparency for consumers.
The debate over dynamic pricing isn’t just about Oasis. With its increasing use in the music industry, the practice could reshape how fans access live events, potentially leaving many priced out of the concerts they love.
READ MORE: Grenfell report reveals government failures and industry deception behind tragic fire
