Dublin MEP calls for investigation into Ticketmaster pricing after Oasis ticket sales

Ellen O'Donoghue

Dublin MEP Regina Doherty has called for an investigation into Ticketmaster by Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Commission after thousands of fans faced 400% surprise price increases for Oasis tickets on Saturday morning.

When ticket prices were advertised earlier this week, standing tickets in Croke Park were €86.50 plus booking fees, the MEP said.

"But when many people eventually got through the online queue this morning, they were faced with the exact same ticket at a price of €415.50. That’s not transparent advertising and certainly not fair to consumers," Ms Doherty said.

“The EU's Digital Services Act has sections included specifically to ensure large platforms that control aspects of the digital economy don’t just make up their own rules that are unfair for consumers. I think Ticketmaster’s 'in-demand' pricing structure certainly needs investigating in this context."

She added that every ticket for the Oasis concerts was always going to be in demand, "so slapping an extra label and €300 on some standing tickets is just extortionate.

“Under the DSA, the CCPC is the competent authority for online marketplaces in Ireland. There is more than enough evidence just from this morning that it’s worth looking at the advertising and pricing around these larger gigs in Ireland," she said.

Ms Doherty also said she will also be writing to the European Commission to ask them to examine their role in investigating the instances at an EU level.