Britain's competition watchdog initiated an investigation into Ticketmaster on Thursday regarding the sale of Oasis tickets, including the application of 'dynamic pricing' to increase costs for fans at the last minute. Thousands of fans endured lengthy virtual queues last weekend to secure tickets for the British band's reunion shows next summer, only to discover that prices had surged due to a 'dynamic pricing' strategy. Many expected to pay the advertised rate of 148.50 pounds ($195.10) but ended up paying more than double at 355.20 pounds.
The Competition and Markets Authority stated it was examining whether the sale of Oasis tickets by Ticketmaster, the official ticketing partner for the concert, might have violated consumer protection law. The investigation will assess if Ticketmaster engaged in 'unfair commercial practices', if fans received 'clear and timely' information explaining that tickets could be subject to 'dynamic pricing', and if consumers were pressured to purchase tickets within a short timeframe. The CMA emphasized that it should not be assumed Ticketmaster had broken consumer protection laws, and as part of the probe, fans were encouraged to submit evidence of their experiences.
Ticketmaster did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the investigation. In a statement to PA Media, cited by the BBC, Oasis clarified that decisions on ticketing and pricing were the responsibility of promoters and management. The band stated they had 'no awareness that dynamic pricing was going to be used' in the sale of tickets for the initial dates. Britain's government announced earlier this week that it would investigate how concert ticket prices were increased during high-demand periods.
According to the CMA, 'dynamic pricing' has become increasingly common across various markets. 'This is not the first time it has raised concerns among fans of live sporting and music events,' the CMA added. Oasis initially announced 14 shows, with the first scheduled for July 2025 in Cardiff, followed by performances in Manchester, London, Edinburgh, and Dublin. The band added three UK dates last week with extra concerts in Manchester, London, and Edinburgh. Due to 'phenomenal demand', Oasis announced two additional concert dates in London on Wednesday.
