Oasis reunion UK concerts expected to cost fans over £1 billion

Oasis fans face record spending on reunion tour with Barclays estimating £1.06 billion in total expenses.

A fan photographs new street art of Oasis' Liam and Noel Gallagher by Manchester-based artist Pic.One.Art on the side of Sifters Record store in Burnage, a suburb of Manchester, northern England, on August 27, 2024. Photo by Paul Ellis/AFP

By Novanka Laras and Anna Fadiah

Fans of the iconic British rock band Oasis are expected to spend a staggering £1.06 billion during the band’s sold-out UK reunion concerts this summer, according to a new report from Barclays. The estimate covers not only ticket prices but also the cost of travel, accommodation, merchandise, food, and other concert-related expenses. The reunion marks the end of a 15-year rift between band members and brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher.

This massive total cost underscores the growing power of the experience economy, as music fans increasingly prioritize once-in-a-lifetime live events over material goods. The report also highlights the potential financial risks faced by concertgoers, including ticket scams and inflated prices.

Fans to spend nearly £766 each per concert

Barclays estimates that each Oasis fan attending one of the 17 UK tour dates will spend an average of £766. The tour, which kicks off in Cardiff on July 4 and includes dates in Manchester and London, is expected to draw around 1.4 million attendees in total.

The bank’s study factored in spending categories such as:

• Ticket costs
• Transportation (trains, flights, car rentals)
• Hotel and lodging
• Food and drink
• Concert merchandise
• New clothing purchased for the event

Rich Robinson, head of hospitality and leisure at Barclays, said in a statement: "The experience economy is no longer a trend, it's a fundamental shift in how consumers determine their financial priorities. People are increasingly choosing memorable experiences over material goods."

This shift is particularly evident in the case of Oasis, whose return to the stage has ignited intense enthusiasm among fans, many of whom consider the band’s music a key part of British cultural identity.

Oasis reunion sparks global interest and UK ticket frenzy

Oasis, known for legendary hits like Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back in Anger, and Champagne Supernova, announced the reunion in August. The long-anticipated tour brings Noel and Liam Gallagher back together after their notorious 2009 split, which fans had long feared would be permanent.

The announcement caused a chaotic rush for tickets, with many fans reporting long wait times and websites crashing. Ticketmaster, the tour’s official seller, reportedly sold over 900,000 tickets across all UK dates.

In addition to the UK shows, the Oasis reunion tour will include international dates in cities such as Buenos Aires, Chicago, Toronto, Sydney, and Tokyo, making it a truly global event.

Ticket scams and consumer watchdog probe mar excitement

While excitement for the Oasis reunion has been sky-high, some fans have already faced disappointment—and financial loss. A separate report from Lloyds Bank revealed that UK concertgoers lost more than £2 million to ticket scams, with most fraud occurring through Facebook.

Fans were duped into paying for tickets that never arrived, or for non-existent premium seating. Many scams involved third-party resale platforms and fake accounts posing as legitimate sellers.

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has also intervened, launching an investigation into Ticketmaster’s handling of the sales process. The watchdog said fans may have been misled into purchasing so-called “platinum” tickets, which offered no real additional value compared to standard tickets.

The CMA’s probe will focus on whether Ticketmaster and its partners engaged in unfair practices during the ticket sale process, particularly regarding pricing transparency and the marketing of premium seats.

The cost of nostalgia and cultural value

The reunion tour marks a nostalgic moment for millions of fans who grew up listening to Oasis in the 1990s and early 2000s. For many, the cost of attending the concerts is seen as a worthwhile investment in a rare cultural event.

Analysts say the enormous projected outlay—over £1 billion in the UK alone—reflects not just inflation and rising concert ticket prices, but also a willingness among fans to spend heavily on experiences that feel personally meaningful.

The phenomenon isn’t exclusive to Oasis. Other major acts like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Bruce Springsteen have also seen fans spend large amounts on tickets and travel, often exceeding traditional entertainment budgets.

Barclays’ report positions Oasis’s reunion tour as a key example of how the music industry continues to thrive on high-value live events, despite economic uncertainty and the cost-of-living crisis facing many consumers in the UK.

Global tour poised to break records

The reunion is already being hailed as one of the most significant comebacks in British music history. Demand has been so intense that analysts expect the full tour—once international ticket sales are factored in—to gross well over £2 billion globally.

If realized, that figure would place Oasis among the top-grossing music tours of all time, alongside acts like U2, The Rolling Stones, and Elton John.

Organizers are reportedly considering adding more dates in response to overwhelming demand, particularly in cities like New York, Berlin, and Paris. However, no official announcements have been made yet.

The Oasis effect on local economies

Economists also note the positive side effects of the Oasis reunion on local economies. Cities hosting concerts—especially Cardiff, Manchester, and London—are expected to benefit from a sharp increase in short-term tourism, with hotels, restaurants, and local shops seeing a significant uptick in revenue.

Transport providers like National Rail and domestic airlines are also bracing for spikes in bookings around the concert dates. Uber and taxi companies have warned of price surges during show nights, while Airbnb has reported an increase in searches near concert venues.

This ripple effect further supports the idea that large-scale music events, particularly those as culturally resonant as Oasis’s return, can act as economic catalysts beyond the entertainment industry.

Outlook and anticipation

With just weeks to go before the first show, anticipation for the Oasis reunion continues to build. Fans, many of whom never got the chance to see the band live before their breakup, now have an opportunity to witness one of Britain’s most iconic groups reunite for what could be their final run.

Despite the costs involved, many fans say they would not miss it for the world. One fan from Glasgow said, “This is history. I don’t care what it costs—I’ve waited 15 years for this moment.”

As Oasis prepares to take the stage again, their reunion not only reignites one of the most famous sibling rivalries in rock but also reaffirms their place as a defining force in British music culture.