Ticketmaster may have misled Oasis fans by obscuring pricing information and failing to clearly explain ticket classifications during last year’s highly anticipated reunion tour sale, according to the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The watchdog’s investigation has concluded that the ticketing giant potentially violated consumer protection laws, prompting calls for significant changes to how the company handles future high-demand events.
The CMA, which launched its investigation in September following widespread customer complaints, determined that Ticketmaster’s use of “platinum” ticket designations for standard admission was particularly problematic. These tickets were sold at nearly 2.5 times the standard price without providing any additional benefits, according to the CMA’s published findings.
Lack of Transparency for Standing Tickets
“We’re concerned that Oasis fans didn’t get the information they needed or may have been misled into buying tickets they thought were better than they were,” said Hayley Fletcher, Interim Senior Director of Consumer Protection at the CMA, as reported by the BBC.
The watchdog specifically highlighted that customers were not informed about “two categories of standing tickets at different prices, with all of the cheaper standing tickets sold first.” This practice resulted in many fans enduring lengthy queues without understanding what they would ultimately pay, leaving them to make rushed decisions when faced with unexpectedly higher prices.
When the tickets went on sale on August 31 last year, fans were shocked to see standard standing tickets advertised at £135 plus fees suddenly relabeled as “in demand” and priced at £355 plus fees. More than 900,000 tickets were sold for the reunion tour, which is set to begin at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on July 4, 2025.
Oasis Distanced Themselves from Pricing Strategy
In the aftermath of the sale, Oasis issued a statement claiming they had no “awareness that dynamic pricing was going to be used” for the initial dates. The band stated that decisions on ticketing and pricing were “left entirely to their promoters and management.”
However, this claim raised eyebrows given that Debbie Gwyther, the girlfriend of frontman Liam Gallagher, serves as his manager. Additionally, SJM Concerts, the tour’s promoter, has ties to Live Nation, Ticketmaster’s parent company, according to The Daily Mail.
When questioned about “dynamic pricing” by MPs last month, Ticketmaster UK director Andrew Parsons denied using algorithms to manipulate prices. “We don’t change prices in any automated or algorithmic way,” he insisted, maintaining that all prices are determined by artist teams and promoters.
Fan Frustration Remains High
The CMA’s findings validate the experiences of thousands of frustrated fans who waited hours in virtual queues only to encounter unexpectedly high prices. Emma Munnelly told The Daily Mail she had spent three hours waiting to buy tickets for herself, her husband, and her daughter, expecting to pay £148.50 for standing at Manchester.
“Absolutely disgusted that when we had the chance of purchasing the tickets, Ticketmaster had increased them to £355 each,” Munnelly said. “This was unaffordable and devastating for my daughter.”
Another fan, Heidi Tringe, reported waking up at 3:45 a.m. local time in Montpelier, USA, only to discover the inflated “In Demand” prices after three and a half hours in the queue. “This is so maddening, heartbreaking,” she said. “If companies are going to have a monopoly on tickets, inflate the prices well above the prices the band has set, they damn well better have systems in place that can handle fan demand.”
Government Response and Future Action
Downing Street has responded to the report by emphasizing that “everyone deserves a fair shot at getting tickets” for music and sporting events. A spokesperson referenced earlier statements by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy about government plans to cap the price at which tickets can be resold.
“For too long fans have had to endure the misery of touts hoovering up tickets for resale at vastly inflated prices,” the spokesperson said. “We’ve also seen cases where a lack of transparency has meant customers have been caught unawares by last minute price rises for high demand events.”
Ticketmaster has acknowledged the CMA’s concerns, stating in an email to the BBC: “At Ticketmaster, we strive to provide the best ticketing platform through a simple, transparent and consumer-friendly experience. We welcome the CMA’s input in helping make the industry even better for fans.”
While Ticketmaster has made some changes to its business practices since the Oasis sale last August, the CMA does not consider these modifications sufficient to address its concerns. The watchdog now expects Ticketmaster to work with them to ensure that, in the future, fans can make well-informed decisions when buying tickets for high-demand events.
