Fans of Oasis have been scrambling for tickets to the band’s highly anticipated reunion tour, but the excitement has been marred by website outages and scalping issues. As tickets for the Dublin gigs sold out almost instantly, many fans found themselves unable to secure seats. Here’s a closer look at the chaos surrounding the ticket sales and what’s next for Oasis fans.
Oasis Reunion Tour Ticket Chaos
The ticket sales for Oasis’s reunion tour kicked off on Saturday morning, and the demand was overwhelming:
- Dublin Shows: The sale for the two Dublin gigs started at 8am, and within minutes, all tickets were gone, leaving only VIP access available.
- UK Shows: General sales for UK shows in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Cardiff began an hour later at 9am.
Unfortunately, the sales process was plagued with issues, causing frustration among fans:
- Website Outages: Both the Ticketmaster site for Dublin and the SJM Concerts’ Gigs and Tours site faced severe outages.
- Error Messages: Fans encountered error messages and long online queues, with some reporting that up to 500,000 people were ahead of them.
Impact of the Outages on Fans
The technical problems left many fans empty-handed:
- Ticketmaster Issues: Ticketmaster’s Dublin page failed to load properly, displaying an error indicating the site couldn’t handle more connections.
- SJM Concerts’ Problems: Gigs and Tours showed messages about high traffic, prompting fans to wait in a virtual queue.
The Band’s Reunion Announcement
Oasis’s reunion announcement has been the talk of the town:
- Band’s Statement: Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher confirmed the long-awaited reunion, saying, “The great wait is over.” The tour will span from July 4 to August 17 next year, kicking off in Cardiff and concluding with two nights at Dublin’s Croke Park on August 16 and 17.
Pre-Sale Ticket Woes
Before the general sale, a pre-sale event on Friday saw thousands of fans missing out:
- Scalping Concerns: The band issued a warning about unofficial reselling websites listing tickets for exorbitant prices.
- Official Channels: Tickets should only be resold via Ticketmaster and Twickets at face value, with any violations potentially leading to cancellations.
Ticket Prices and Availability
The ticket prices for Oasis’s reunion tour varied significantly:
- Dublin: Tickets for Croke Park started at €86.50 (£72.75) before booking fees.
- London: At Wembley Stadium, prices began at £74.25, with premium options like the £506.25 pre-show package.
- Cardiff and Edinburgh: Standing tickets ranged from £150 to £151, while cheaper seats were available for around £73 to £74.
- Manchester: Tickets started from £148.50, with a mix of standing and hospitality options.
Scalping and Reselling Issues
Scalpers have been capitalising on the high demand:
- Resale Prices: Tickets for Wembley were listed on Viagogo for up to £5,909, with VIP packages on StubHub priced at £10,578.
- FanProtect Guarantee: StubHub claims to offer a “FanProtect 100% guarantee” for secure purchasing, but concerns remain about inflated prices.
Response from Promoters and Band
The response to the ticketing issues has been mixed:
- Promoter Messages: SJM Concerts and Ticketmaster have apologised for the disruptions and are working to address the problems.
- Band’s Statement: Oasis has urged fans to buy tickets only through official channels and warned against purchasing from unofficial resellers.
Conclusion
The ticket sales for Oasis’s reunion tour have highlighted the intense demand and the challenges of managing such high-profile events. With website outages and scalping issues complicating the process, many fans are left disappointed. As the tour dates approach, fans will need to stay vigilant and rely on official channels for any remaining tickets.
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