Watchdog launches inquiry into Ticketmaster Oasis gigs sale

The competition watchdog has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster's Oasis gigs sale and is calling for evidence from fans.

The Competition and Markets Authority said it would look into concerns over how 'dynamic pricing' may have been used.

Investigators will also assess if buyers were given clear and timely information explaining that ticket prices could change, and whether consumer protection law was breached.

Ticketmaster has said it does not set concert prices and its website states this is down to the "event organiser" who "has priced these tickets according to their market value".

Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, said: "It's important that fans are treated fairly when they buy tickets, which is why we've launched this investigation.

"It's clear that many people felt they had a bad experience and were surprised by the price of their tickets at check-out.

"We want to hear from fans who went through the process and may have encountered issues so that we can investigate whether existing consumer protection law has been breached."

The CMA said it would now engage with Ticketmaster and gather evidence from various other sources, which may include the band's management and event organisers.

It warned that no one should assume Ticketmaster had broken consumer protection law and invited fans to provide their evidence on its website and, where possible, upload any screenshots taken during the buying process.

Dynamic pricing, which can raise costs in the event of high demand and limited supply, was "not in itself unlawful", the authority said.

But businesses "must not mislead customers about their prices, and must be transparent about how prices are set".

It comes after many fans were shocked by ticket prices for the band's reunion tour - which saw standard tickets more than doubling from £148 to £355 on Ticketmaster.

Others fans were left angry and disappointed at being left empty-handed, having waited in an online queue for hours to buy tickets.

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On Wednesday, Oasis announced they would play two more dates at Wembley Stadium next September as part of next year's Live '25 tour using a new ticketing plan following the chaos over the weekend.

A ballot will be opened first to fans who were unsuccessful in the initial sale "as a small step towards making amends for the situation," the band said.

Oasis said they "leave decisions on ticketing and pricing entirely to their promoters and management, and at no time had any awareness that dynamic pricing was going to be used."

Amid the backlash over prices, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy promised a government review and the European Commission also said it would examine the issue.