Droves of Déise Oasis fans left disappointed after ticket fiasco

Despite initial elation, Oasis fans were met with long queues, high prices and website crashes at the weekend as they attempted to get their hands on coveted tickets for the long-awaited return of the duo.

On Saturday last, fans from near and far waited in virtual queues for hours in the hope of getting their hands on tickets.

Demand was predictably high, but long queues were not the only obstacle fans faced, as when the queues were passed many were met with ticket prices far higher than face value.

The official ticket sales website Ticketmaster also struggled with the traffic of fans and crashes occurred throughout the process.

The fiasco has brought into question the use of official ticket sales websites and dynamic pricing, a system introduced by Ticketmaster in 2022.

The system means that when demand is extraordinary high and demand is limited, ticket prices can go up exponentially.

Amidst the debacle, the British government has said it will launch an investigation into how concert tickets are sold on official websites.

Speaking to the Waterford News & Star about the issue was Colin Shanahan, member of hugely popular local Oasis tribute act, Mad Ferritt.

Colin said: “The initial news was great, but then with the debacle over tickets and the absolute astronomical demand, it’s a tricky one.

“People were always going to be disappointed but I think the issue was the large queues and the website crashing.

“If you get to the point where you’re at the top of the queue and you can buy your tickets and you put your card details in and the website crashes that’s really poor practice. 

"It leaves a bad taste in the buyer's mouth and it was very poorly managed and run.

“However, all that aside, as lifelong fans we are delighted they’re back,” he added.

Colin said he was "very lucky" to secure tickets at face value and expressed his excitement for the long-awaited return.

“I always had it in the back of my head that it would happen. There's been speculation since not long after they split up. I thought it would happen a bit earlier and I didn’t think it would take this long. But it's great to see the band reforming and giving the fans what they want."

He added that the return has come at the right time for brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher.

“I think they’ve struck at the right time. Liam is sounding really well, he struggled with his voice for many years but he’s back on form now and he’s looking after himself and not doing his typical Liam Gallagher rock star stuff anymore. 

"Noel has also been performing at a high level. So I think they’ve both struck it at the right time where they can recreate the magic we all loved back in the day."

Colin’s experience with Mad Ferritt means he has got to witness the range of fans who adore the band firsthand. He said: “When we play we see a huge age dynamic, everything from aged 14 to mid-seventies. There’s a whole generation of fans who are now coming through and most of them weren’t even alive when they split up.

“So the interest is huge and it’s great to see the demand is through the roof, and everyone who’s a fan is entitled to be there.”