What is the Oasis Ticket fiasco? Drama explained as Irish regulator probe “remains active and ongoing”

Ireland’s consumer watchdog, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), is still investigating Ticketmaster’s handling of ticket sales for Oasis’s return shows at Dublin’s Croke Park on August 16–17, 2025. The probe began in September 2024 after more than 100 complaints from frustrated fans. Regulators say the investigation is “active and ongoing,” and no conclusion date has been set.

Fans claim Ticketmaster used a system called dynamic‑pricing for platinum tickets of the Oasis concert. These tickets were marked like regular seats but sold at much higher prices. Buyers in the same section paid very different amounts. Regulators say that it may break Irish consumer law if it misleads buyers.

Why are fans so frustrated with the Oasis concert tickets?

Many fans paid over €490.50 for platinum tickets for the Oasis concert, which had no extra perks and sat in the standard sections of the stadium. One fan paid almost €600, not counting a €77.44 service fee and a €2.95 handling fee. Ticketmaster said this was legal because they set the platinum price as the official face value, but critics argue that the Sale of Tickets Act 2021 bans reselling or pricing above face value for events over 1,000 capacity.

Meanwhile, the resale exchange on Ticketmaster showed even higher prices. These were meant to be “face‑value” listings, but without added value. Ticketmaster insists that resale is fair and secure. They say sellers pay no fee and buyers get verified tickets. They defend the extra charges as needed to reissue and manage tickets. Critics say this system lets the company double‑dip, meaning they earn from the original platinum sale and then again from resale fees.

Due to this, many fans felt misled. They queued online for hours. Some waited without clear info on what tickets they might get. They ended up paying far more than they expected. This lack of transparency is a key concern in both Irish and UK investigations.

Tensions across the Irish Sea

In the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is also investigating Ticketmaster. On July 2, 2025, the CMA warned it was preparing to sue Ticketmaster because it had not agreed to changes demanded by the regulator. The CMA flagged that fans bought £350 platinum tickets for seats sold earlier at £150. They were not told that the pricing would steeply rise over time, and fans lacked clear information on what they were buying.

The CMA found no proof that Ticketmaster used real-time algorithmic pricing. Instead, it sold cheaper tickets first and released more costly standing tickets later. That approach upset many buyers who thought they paid fair prices, only to face stealth surcharges.

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Consumer groups and rights advocates have called for refunds. They argue Ticketmaster misled customers and charged too much for standard seats. The UK watchdog said Ticketmaster’s partial changes were still not enough, and legal action may follow unless issues are solved.

The CCPC says it continues to monitor Ticketmaster closely. Its chair, Brian McHugh, warned that enforcement action is possible if breaches of law are found. The regulator has not said when the probe will end, leaving uncertainty just weeks before the Oasis concerts in Dublin.

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