Regulations to force ‘uniform’ ticket pricing are needed to prevent the dynamic pricing of the Oasis ticket frenzy, according to Michael Healy-Rae. 

Oasis fans are still looking back in anger at the prices many paid to attend the band’s reunion tour next year. 

While promoters MCD said tickets would cost ‘from €86.50’, dynamic and in-demand pricing meant some fans spent over €400 for one standing ticket. 

Politicians have called for the Consumer and Competition Protection Commission (CPCC) to investigate Ticketmaster’s pricing system. 

The Ticketmaster UK site shows hundreds of thousands of people in the online queue as Oasis reunion tour tickets go on sale. Image: Vuk Valcic / Alamy Stock Photo

Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae told Newstalk Breakfast he is “slow to criticise” promoters or vendors like Ticketmaster, especially when there is such high demand for one tour. 

“[When] 700,000 people are looking for 160,000 tickets, a lot of people are going to be disappointed,” he said. 

“There has been an Oasis famine since 2009 and of course the appetite is there, and people want to go – but there shouldn’t be a robbing to get there. 

“You can envision a situation when next August you have two people standing side-by-side [at Croke Park] - one person paid under €200 and the other for the same spot would be paying €400.” 

Oasis tickets 'exorbitant'

Deputy Healy-Rae said he understands promoters like MCD and artists like Oasis have to make money “as a business”. 

“But there is such a thing as exorbitant pricing,” he said. 

“Money has to be made – but there is a difference between making money and having people robbed. 

“People have paid too much money [for Oasis tickets] for what they’re getting.” 

The Government previously introduced legislation to prevent ticket touting – and Deputy Healy-Rae said the Government should consider doing the same for dynamic pricing. 

“It’s time for uniform pricing,” he said. “So that no matter how many people look for a ticket... when you set a price regardless of what demand is going to be, that is the price. 

“The Government should step up to the plate here.” 

 

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Live Nation Entertainment is an American multinational company with part ownership of MCD, Ticketmaster and venues such as the 3Arena and the Gaiety Theatre. 

The US Justice Department is suing Live Nation, claiming it has an unfair monopoly on the entertainment industry. 

Deputy Healy-Rae said he is “slow in blaming” companies like Ticketmaster for the high ticket prices. 

“It's a hard question to answer because you can't make people go into a market if other players aren’t willing,” he said. 

He noted different “great promoters” across the years have brought “great artists” to Ireland. 

Oasis will perform in Croke Park on August 16th and August 17th.