Ticketmaster has recently found itself in hot water as fans express outrage over the cancellation of their Oasis Live '25 concert tickets. The cancellations come after the ticketing giant identified bot activity in the purchasing process. This incident has triggered an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which began in September, scrutinizing Ticketmaster's practices, including dynamic pricing.
Several fans received emails from Ticketmaster notifying them that bots were involved in their ticket purchases. The emails urged recipients to fill out a form to resolve the issue. Among those affected was Marta Bonnet, a dedicated fan from Spain, who spent over £3,000 on tickets for herself and her family to attend the concert at Wembley. Initially dismissing the email as spam, Bonnet later confirmed its authenticity.
"At first we thought this email was fake or a spam email, but no, it was true. I really can’t believe what has happened." – Marta Bonnet
Bonnet, who invested approximately £2,082 (€2,000) on accommodation and flights, faces the likelihood of not being refunded for her plane tickets. Despite being a loyal customer, she stated she would refrain from purchasing tickets from Ticketmaster in the future.
In another case, Leighah Conroy's friend bought tickets last August but received a similar email from Ticketmaster last Friday. They had spent about £150 per ticket, with additional costs for hotel stays and travel. Conroy expressed her frustration over the situation.
"Our heads have been pretty battered these past 24 hours. I felt sick in the stomach. It’s a band you’ll never experience or see again and it’s been on my bucket list for years. It just feels like my dreams have been completely crushed." – Leighah Conroy
Ticketmaster maintains that it does not set concert prices, attributing that responsibility to the "event organiser." However, the company's actions have drawn significant criticism from fans like Conroy, who felt wrongfully accused.
"To say that we’re bots is totally out of order for Ticketmaster because we tried all day to get the tickets." – Leighah Conroy
The fallout from this incident extends beyond emotional distress, as financial implications loom over affected fans. One concertgoer, who planned to attend with friends at Heaton Park in Manchester on July 19, described feeling "crushed" by the ticket cancellations after investing heavily in tickets, accommodation, and travel.