Some Oasis fans celebrated like a champagne supernova, while others looked on in anger on Saturday (August 31) as online ticket sites were overwhelmed by demand for the band's first shows in 15 years.
The Britpop behemoth fronted by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher are scheduled to play 17 dates in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin from July 4.
More than a million tickets went on sale Saturday morning, with prices starting at around £74 (just under $100) and rising to a £506 ($666) package that includes a pre-show party and merchandise.
The band's reps said later in the day that all tickets had been sold, but hinted that more shows may be announced, saying “anticipation for details of the international tour dates is now growing rapidly”.
Many fans were frustrated in their attempts to secure tickets. Some people trying to enter a handful of authorized sales sites, including Ticketmaster and Gigs and Tours, received error messages, while many others were told they were in long queues.
Josh Jeffery, a videographer who lives near Edinburgh, spent hours queuing up online tickets before “the whole site crashed” on the last step.
“I gave up, my friends gave up,” said Jeffery, who first saw Oasis in Manchester as a teenager in 1996. “We just decided it was too much trouble.”
“While I was in line, I heard 'Wonderwall' blasting from my neighbor's house,” he added wistfully. “Apparently he had gotten tickets.”
Some fans were able to purchase tickets through a pre-sale lottery on Friday. Barista Isabelle Doyle said she was “over the moon” after grabbing two seats for one of the band's London shows.
“I've been a fan of Oasis for about 10 years now, literally since I was 11,” the 21-year-old said. “To finally be able to see them after they managed me as a teenager is absolutely amazing and I'm so excited.”
Within hours, tickets were being offered on resale sites for up to 6,000 pounds ($7,800). Oasis issued a warning, saying tickets could only be resold at face value through authorized sites.
“tickets appearing on other secondary ticketing sites are either fake or will be canceled by the promoters,” the band said in a statement.
Megan Gordon, a 25-year-old fan from Manchester, said she was “gutted” after failing to get tickets.
“I don't really want to pay resale, but I will,” he said.
Formed in Manchester in 1991, Oasis were one of the dominant British acts of the 1990s, producing hits such as 'Wonderwall', 'Champagne Supernova' and 'Don't Look Back in Anger'. Its sound was fueled by sing-along rock choruses and the combustible chemistry between guitarist-songwriter Noel Gallagher and singer brother Liam.
Oasis broke up in 2009, with Noel Gallagher leaving the band after a backstage argument with his brother at a festival near Paris. While the Gallagher brothers, now 57 and 51, have not performed together since, both regularly perform Oasis songs in their solo concerts. Also, each has criticized the other in the press.
Announcing the reunion, the band said fans will experience “the spark and intensity” that only occurs when they appear on stage together.
Alice Enders, head of research at media consultancy Enders Analysis, said touring was now the main source of income for many musicians and Oasis could be in for a big payday – although the tour, currently limited to the UK Kingdom and Ireland, it pales in comparison to world-renowned ones like Taylor Swift's Eras tour.
He said Oasis are playing catchup in a live music market that has seen “a relentless increase in spending, consumer spending, demand for festivals”.
“It's been 15 years of mega-trends that they've basically lost,” Enders said. “So it's good that they're jumping in now. … If they wait too long, then they're just a bunch of old lawns.”
The tour is set to kick off on July 4th and 5th at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Oasis will also be performing at Heaton Park in Manchester on July 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20. London's Wembley Stadium on 25, 26 and 30 July and 2 and 3 August. Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on August 8, 9 and 12 and Croke Park in Dublin on August 16 and 17.
Host cities are expecting an economic boost in hotels, bars, restaurants and shops — particularly Manchester, the band's birthplace and a city renowned for its musical heritage.
Sasha Lord, Manchester's official night-time economy adviser, said there was “a lot of buzz” in the city about the reunion.
“This is a homecoming gig,” he said. “When they step foot on that stage for the first time, it's going to be a really special moment.”
Fans acknowledged that given the brothers' frequent fights, there is a risk that not all dates will go according to plan. But most were undeterred.
Louise Hudson has snapped up tickets to London's Wembley Arena and is planning a 'family night' with her brother, sister-in-law and niece.
As for the Gallaghers, “if they're out, they're out,” he said. “Families, huh?”
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/oasis-ticket-sales-start-reunion-tour-1235765246/