Thousands of Oasis tickets are being cancelled by Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster is cancelling thousands of fans’ Oasis tickets under the claim that it “identified that bots were used” to make the purchases.
On social media, many fans have claimed to have been wrongfully targeted by the American ticket sales and distribution company’s crackdown on bot purchases, adding that their “dreams have been crushed” by the situation.
Britpop pioneers Oasis — comprising brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher — were renowned for hit singles ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’ and ‘Champagne Supernova’, but never short of controversy throughout their decades-spanning career. The band fell apart after a physical altercation between the brothers on tour at the Rock En Seine festival in Paris. No longer on speaking terms, all hopes of a reunion were dashed.
It’s no surprise that fans were ecstatic last year when the Manchester-born band announced their international reunion tour. Some told the BBC, “You can’t put a price on a band such as Oasis, can you?” Devoted listeners flocked to queue for tickets online.
But following mild controversy on ticket prices — upwards of £300, some reported — a reported 4% of tickets (around 50,000) ended up on resale websites. In an effort to keep ticket prices accessible and reduce resale of already expensive tickets at even further inflated prices, all resold tickets — aside those sold on resale partner Twickets — were under threat of cancellation and return for sale on Ticketmaster.
Now, fans are receiving emails that their tickets — which Ticketmaster claims were purchased by bots — have violated the tour’s terms and conditions. Many fans have asserted that their tickets were bought authentically.
The message reads: “These terms were specifically established to limit resale of tickets on unauthorised ticketing platforms for profit. Fans have been strongly advised by all parties not to purchase tickets from unauthorised resale sites, to protect them from fraud or refunding.”
Ticketmaster says anyone affected can appeal, but the fate of the ticket holders remains uncertain.
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