Dublin MEP calls for investigation into Ticketmaster prices after Oasis ticket sales – Homepage

Ellen O’Donoghue

Dublin MEP Regina Doherty has called for an investigation into Ticketmaster by the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission after thousands of fans were surprised to see a 400 percent price increase for Oasis tickets on Saturday morning.

When ticket prices were announced earlier this week, standing tickets at Croke Park would have cost €86.50 plus a booking fee, the MEP said.

“But when many people finally got through the online queue this morning, they found themselves faced with exactly the same ticket priced at €415.50. This is not transparent advertising and certainly not fair to consumers,” Ms Doherty said.

“The EU’s Digital Services Act contains sections specifically designed to ensure that large platforms that control aspects of the digital economy do not simply make up their own rules that are unfair to consumers. I think Ticketmaster’s ‘on demand’ pricing structure certainly needs to be examined in this context.”

She added that every ticket for the Oasis concerts would always be in demand, “so it’s just outrageous to stick an extra sticker and 300 euros on some standing tickets.”

“Under the DSA, the CCPC is the competent authority for online marketplaces in Ireland. As of this morning alone, there is more than enough evidence to suggest that it is worth taking a closer look at the advertising and pricing around these larger gigs in Ireland,” she said.

Ms Doherty also said she would write to the European Commission to ask it to review its role in investigating these cases at EU level.