Plans to ban dynamic pricing drafted following Oasis ticket outrage

Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley is to introduce legislation that would ban so-called dynamic pricing in order to protect consumers from being “ripped off” when buying tickets for live events.

Dooley and his party colleagues TDs Jim O’Callaghan and Niamh Smyth are set to introduce the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) (Amendment) Bill 2024, a private members’ bill, today, following last weekend’s Oasis ticket fiasco.

Some fans were given the option of paying up to €415 for “in demand” standing tickets, which cost more than double the price of a €176.75 standard standing ticket for the bands two nights in Croke Park next year.

The more expensive options became available to some after hours of queuing on the Ticketmaster website.

This would add to legislation introduced in 2021 banning the resale of tickets above face value by ticket touts on the secondary market.

“The Oasis gigs showed fans do not know whether they will have to pay for tickets through dynamic pricing and how dynamic pricing models actually work,” said Mr O’Callaghan.

“People attending any event, not just concerts, should be confident that when they are waiting in an online queue to purchase a ticket they will pay the price that was initially advertised.

“Over the weekend, this was not the case for fans of Oasis. After waiting in an online queue fans were met by ‘in demand’ tickets that were for sale at over €400 each.

“We all recognise that online sales have revolutionised ticketing and nobody wants a return to the days of queues down the street and around the corner from a ticket office.

He said the “emerging practice of dynamic pricing must be nipped in the bud”before it becomes commonplace for other events like the All-Ireland final.

Oasis have since released a statement on the issue, saying they "at no time had any awareness" that dynamic pricing was going to be used for the sale of their reunion tour tickets on Ticketmaster.

It comes as the Gallagher brothers have made a change to the process of buying tickets as they announced two new London dates added to the 2025 tour yesterday (September 4), after fans were left disappointed and complained over queues and surge pricing.

READ NEXT - Met Eireann confirms odd 'Arctic blast' for Ireland but there's a twist coming