Oasis fans were left frustrated after demand caused sales websites to crash, and for those who were able to buy tickets, prices doubled.
The UK government has announced an investigation into price gouging after ticket prices for a highly anticipated reunion show were dramatically increased, infuriating Oasis fans.
Demand was so high that sales websites crashed on Saturday, leaving fans frustrated.
But many who managed to get to the front of the online queue hours after tickets went on sale were also disappointed to find that ticket prices had more than doubled.
Related article: Oasis announces tour after Gallagher brothers reunite
Culture Minister Lisa Nandy on Sunday called the ticket price hike “disturbing,” adding that the practice would be reviewed as part of the government's upcoming consultation on consumer protection in ticket sales and resales.
“The transparency and use of dynamic pricing, including the technology around queuing systems to incentivize it,” Nandy said.
Standing tickets, which were originally priced at around 150 pounds ($197) on Ticketmaster, one of Oasis' official sales websites, were being sold for more than 350 pounds as “popular standing tickets.”
The company said artists can decide whether to adopt the practice, in which ticket values change based on demand.
Britain's Advertising Standards Authority said on Monday it had received 450 complaints about Ticketmaster's concert ads, alleging they “made misleading claims about availability and pricing.”
The regulator said it was “carefully evaluating” the complaints.
Dynamic pricing is widely used by airlines and is becoming increasingly common in concert ticket sales.
However, with tickets available for a limited time and demand for the Oasis reunion tour so high, fans have slammed the move as “greedy”, “disgusting” and a “rip-off”.
Related article: 'Wonderwall' goes to Wembley: Rumours of Oasis reunion rock the UK
One reason for using dynamic pricing is to prevent scalpers from buying tickets at inflated prices and reselling them.
Oasis had warned that any tickets sold in breach of their terms and conditions would be cancelled after some advance tickets bought on Friday were listed on resale sites for as much as £6,000.
In Ireland, where it is illegal to resell tickets above their retail price, Deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin denounced “price gouging” after some tickets were sold for more than 400 euros ($440).
Oasis, whose hits include “Wonderwall,” “Don't Look Back in Anger” and “Champagne Supernova,” will play 17 shows in the UK and Ireland, 15 years since feuding brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher last performed together.
Author: Agence France-Presse
