Labour Ministers Investigate Ticket Pricing After Oasis Reunion Ticketing Issues

Labour ministers have launched an investigation to address ticket pricing concerns after a major debacle during the Oasis reunion tour. This event highlighted issues with ticket reselling and the practice of 'dynamic pricing' that made headlines last summer.

The government is proposing a cap on ticket resale prices to protect music and sports fans from being exploited by organized ticket touts. Reports indicated that tickets for the Oasis concerts were being sold at staggering prices, with some going for up to 40 times their original face value.

As part of this initiative, ministers have issued a 'call for evidence' to gather public opinions on the proposed cap, which would allow resale prices to increase only up to 30 percent above the original ticket price. They are also looking to limit the number of tickets that resellers can list to the maximum purchased on the primary market.

The goal of these measures is to combat bulk-buying practices by professional touts who resell tickets at inflated prices. In addition, the proposals include introducing new legal responsibilities for ticket resale websites and apps to ensure they provide accurate information to consumers.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated, ‘Everyone deserves a fair chance to see their favorite musicians or sports teams live. For too long, fans have faced obstacles from people hoarding tickets to resell at massive profits.’

The summer sale for tickets to the highly anticipated Oasis reunion concerts resulted in a public outcry. At one point, resale tickets were listed for over £6,000, far exceeding their original price.

Another significant issue during the sale was the use of 'dynamic pricing' by official ticket seller Ticketmaster, which increased ticket prices based on demand. Prices reportedly surged from £148 to £355 during what fans dubbed ‘Supersonic Saturday’. This has prompted an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into the practices employed by Ticketmaster.

Support for the government’s action has come from various figures in the music industry, including DJ Fatboy Slim, who emphasized the importance of keeping ticket prices fair to allow more fans to enjoy live events without being excessively charged.

In recent months, other major music acts also faced similar issues, as known brands like Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen saw their tickets being targeted by touts. Tickets for the Oasis concert on resale sites like Viagogo reached shocking prices, with listings between £687 and £9,041.

The government's Plan for Change aims to enhance consumer protections, ensuring that fans are not ripped off and that more of the money spent on tickets benefits the live events sector rather than greedy resellers. A spokesperson from Ticketmaster noted that they support industry-wide measures to cap resale prices and advocate for tighter regulations against automated bots used for buying tickets.

price, fans, investigation