The Oasis Live ’25 Tour, marking the reunion of the Gallagher brothers, has seen unprecedented ticket demand, but concerns have emerged over the misuse of accessible tickets by non-disabled fans. Reports from Heaton Park in Manchester describe how individuals allegedly exploited accessibility policies, leaving disabled attendees unable to secure suitable spaces.
Eyewitnesses claimed some concertgoers used wheelchairs or crutches to access accessible platforms, only to discard them once the performance began. Mark Chapman, a commentator, drew attention to the issue, explaining how these actions prevented genuine disabled fans from attending. While not all disabilities are visible, the apparent abuse of free companion tickets allowed some people to enter on a two-for-one basis.
Pretending to have a disability is not explicitly illegal in the UK, although doing so for financial gain constitutes fraud. Resale platforms listed accessible tickets for the band’s Edinburgh show at prices up to £789. This indicates exploitation of the system, despite Ticketmaster requiring proof of disability within three weeks of purchase. Fans like Ian Colquhoun, an amputee from Murieston, Scotland, told the Daily Mail that “anybody” could purchase these tickets without immediate verification, allowing misuse to go unchecked.
Accessible areas at venues such as Heaton Park are arranged to comply with the Equality Act 2010, offering safe and unobstructed views and movement for disabled concertgoers. When these spaces are misused, it compromises safety, obstructs views, and increases the risk during emergencies.
This problem extends beyond concert seating. Abuse of accessible parking and toilet facilities remains widespread. Under the Blue Badge scheme, unauthorised use by friends or relatives can result in fines of up to £1,000. Nonetheless, misuse continues to restrict access for those who rely on these services.
Ticketmaster’s requirement for proof of disability is meant to deter misuse, yet disabled fans argue that the policy lacks enforcement. Tickets have still appeared on unauthorised resale sites at inflated prices, despite Oasis limiting resales to Ticketmaster’s official fan-to-fan platform and Twickets. A March 2025 investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority found Ticketmaster may have misled customers with unclear pricing, drawing further scrutiny to its processes.
Will Harrison, founder of CareCo, said he was disappointed by the reports. “The excitement around the Oasis reunion was naturally expected given it was something that many believed would never happen, and obviously tickets were going to be difficult to get,” he said. “However, it’s a shame to hear reports that people abused the accessible tickets to gain entry. This will have stopped genuine fans with disabilities being able to attend the show and even made things potentially difficult at the concert itself, blocking views and taking up valuable room with unnecessary aids. It’s a double-edged sword because security at concerts like this need to ensure that people aren’t taken advantage of, but also that people with disabilities aren’t placed in a position where they need to ‘prove’ their disability or needs either.”
Disability advocates, including The Ability Alliance, are now calling for urgent reforms to the ticketing process. As demand for live events continues to grow, there is increasing pressure to strengthen verification procedures and prevent abuse of accessibility systems to ensure fair access for all.
