Ticketmaster Cancels OASIS Reunion Tickets
Ticketmaster has begun the process of canceling certain tickets for the OASIS reunion, claiming that these tickets were purchased using automated bots.
Several ticket holders reported receiving emails from Ticketmaster on Friday (February 7), stating that their purchases were flagged as generated by bots and were subsequently canceled, as Sky News reported.
Affected events include a concert at Manchester’s Hitton Park and another at Wembley Stadium in London, part of the Oasis Live ’25 Tour, which marks the band’s first series of performances since 2009.
Fan Reactions to Cancellations
“To say that we are completely wronged by Ticketmaster because we tried all day to get tickets,” said one fan from Cumbria, as quoted by Keeper. The fan mentioned that she received four tickets for a Manchester show, each costing £150 ($186).
The impact has extended beyond the UK, with a Spanish fan reporting an investment of £3000 (approximately $3700) on tickets, flights, and accommodations for herself and family members to attend the Wembley concert. This has led to a loss of trust in the official ticket vendor, according to Sky News reported.
Ticketmaster has responded to the backlash by offering affected customers a form to contest the cancellations. A representative from Ticketmaster stated, “Anyone who believes that their refund was made in error can fill out the form provided by the tour promoters for review,” as noted by Sky News.
Investigations and Future Plans
This situation is occurring amid an ongoing investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into Ticketmaster’s ticket sales practices for the OASIS concerts. Launched in September, the investigation focuses particularly on the company’s dynamic pricing system, which has reportedly seen standard ticket prices rise from £150 to £355 ($440).
The reunion tour featuring brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher is set to kick off on July 4 in Cardiff, followed by 16 additional dates across the UK and Ireland. The group is also planning to take the tour globally, with scheduled shows in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Australia.
During a recent appearance at the Bloomberg SCRENTIME Conference in Los Angeles in October, Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino mentioned that Ticketmaster has been facing an onslaught from “many billions” of bots during the sale of OASIS tickets. “They are a professional $12 billion business trying to seize tickets. So, this is an arms race as we try to keep them out, preventing them from claiming tickets,” Rapino stated at the time.
To combat this issue, Ticketmaster has implemented measures to block bots, including requiring ticket buyers to register for sales.
Both Ticketmaster and See Tickets have announced plans to cancel thousands of tickets listed on unauthorized websites. Nevertheless, the current cancellations specifically target purchases allegedly made through automated systems, impacting fans who assert they obtained their tickets through legitimate means.
For many fans, the cancellations represent more than just financial loss. “Our heads have been spinning for the last 24 hours… This is a band that you will never see again, and it was on my bucket list for years,” shared a fan from Cumbria. “It feels like my dreams have been completely crushed.”
Ticketmaster has published The Oasis Returns FAQ page, stating that as of February 7, ticket returns will begin for those believed to be in violation of the tour’s terms and conditions. “These conditions were designed to combat the resale of tickets through unauthorized secondary markets that profit excessively,” Ticketmaster explained.
“Any tickets identified as purchased by bots will be returned, as this violates the tour conditions. The barcodes on these returned tickets will be invalid and will not grant entry to the event.”
This news coincides with long-standing federal demands for ticket sellers to disclose the final ticket price, moving towards a full Senate vote. Last week, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee adopted the Transparency in Ticketing for Major Events (TICKET) Act, which is now set for a full Senate vote.
The legislation also instructs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to consider enforcement of the Bot Disclosure Act of 2016, a law intended to eliminate bots from purchasing tickets from consumers, though it appears the effects have been minimal.
Ticketmaster cancels some Oasis reunion tour tickets believed to be purchased by bots (report)
