LONDON (WKRC) – Oasis is canceling approximately 50,000 tickets for its British tour dates that were sold by resellers.
A spokesperson for Live Nation and SJM, the tour promoters for Oasis, spoke to CNN and confirmed that the company is canceling tickets that were sold through unofficial secondary sites to put a stop to price gauging.
CNN reported that Oasis fans were the latest to deal with the issue of ticket scalpers, who purchase tickets at face value and resell for profit. According to the network, it is a rare issue that lawmakers in Washington agree on in their support of the Fans First Act, which proposes restrictions on ticket resellers and increases protections against online bots.
Oasis announced a reunion tour after splitting back in 2009 following an agreement between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher. Tickets for the band’s UK and Ireland tour went live back in August, with some fans taking to social media to write about inflated prices and long wait times, with some missing out entirely on buying a ticket, according to CNN.
Live Nation told CNN that 1.4 million tickets went live for purchase, with 10 million fans from across the world ready to purchase them. After selling out, some tickets were re-listed on secondary sites at inflated prices, with CNN reporting that some tickets were priced as high as $7,294 on Viagogo.
A Live Nation and SJM rep told the network that reselling the tickets on secondary sites broke the terms and conditions of the Oasis tour, adding that the canceled tickets would be put up for sale again on Ticketmaster, a platform owned by Live Nation.
According to CNN, the tickets for the UK and Ireland leg of the tour were permitted to be purchased and resold on Ticketmaster or the official resale partner, Twickets. The network reported that 4% of the tickets were sold on secondary sites like Viagogo.
Live Nation’s spokesperson told CNN that the restrictions were designed to prevent scalpers from taking advantage of Oasis fans. The company will refund canceled tickets and those who believe their tickets were canceled by mistake can speak to a ticket agent to have their case investigated, per CNN.
“All parties involved with the tour continue to urge fans not to purchase tickets from unauthorized websites as some of these may be fraudulent and others subject to cancellation. If fans do want to sell Oasis tickets, they can do so at face value through Ticketmaster or the band’s official resale partner Twickets,” the Live Nation spokesperson told CNN.
Legally purchased concert tickets may be resold in the United Kingdom without issue, according to CNN, which added that consumer protections are in place. Viagogo confirmed to CNN that it will continue to permit the resale of Oasis tickets, although it is unclear if those tickets will be canceled by Live Nation as well.
“We want to reassure fans buying tickets on Viagogo that we are fully compliant with the law and guidelines set out by relevant regulators. Threats from promoters to cancel tickets unfairly target fans who chose to buy on a secure, transparent, and highly regulated resale marketplace. Such actions are clear examples of anti-consumer and retaliatory behaviour,” a Viagogo spokesperson told the network.