### Group’s £1,000 Oasis Concert Experience Cut Short After Shocking Ejection at Heaton Park
A family from Oxfordshire were left upset and disappointed after their much-anticipated Oasis concert in Manchester ended abruptly when one member of their group was forcibly removed by security just 35 minutes into the performance. The group, having spent more than £1,000 on tickets, accommodation, and associated expenses, saw their long-awaited evening descend into chaos, prompting calls for answers from the event organisers.
David Hayward, 29, attended the highly sought-after Oasis reunion show at Heaton Park on Wednesday, 16 July, along with his partner Katie Stratford, his brother, and sister-in-law. For the Oxfordshire parents, the night held particular significance, as it was their first child-free outing together in three years—a rare chance to relax away from their parenting responsibilities.
However, events took a dramatic turn scarcely half an hour into the set. According to Katie Stratford, the couple were enjoying the atmosphere and dancing together when a group of up to ten men suddenly approached and grabbed David without warning. He was promptly separated from the group by security and led away from the crowd, leaving his family confused and distressed.
Katie, who works as a dog groomer, recounted the ordeal, describing the evening as not only disappointing but also deeply distressing: “We were just celebrating being out as a family. Then all of a sudden, these blokes just took David away, and nobody would tell us why. The staff on the ground didn’t show any concern and refused to offer any explanation.” She added that the family had been looking forward to the event for a long time, and the unexpected confrontation shattered the sense of excitement.
After being taken to a segregated area, David was subjected to a search for illegal substances, though nothing was found. He was then accused of being involved in an altercation, a claim both David and Katie vigorously denied. Attempts to obtain more information from security staff were reportedly met with hostility. Katie described the response from staff as “vile” and expressed disbelief at their conduct: “They spoke to us with no respect. We were left completely in the dark.”
While Katie scrambled to locate the rest of their party—her mobile phone having been handed to her sister-in-law—David was told that a decision was being made whether to arrest him or simply eject him from the venue. Despite trying to appeal to the on-site police, Katie was told they could not intervene and, although permitted to return to the concert herself, she faced the prospect of finishing the evening alone or leaving with her partner.
The incident also affected the rest of the group, with David’s brother and sister-in-law missing a significant portion of the show while trying to resolve the situation and looking for the couple. All four had coordinated childcare, dog-sitting, and taken time away from their self-employed work to attend the event, adding to the sting of disappointment. Katie noted, “We lost more than just the ticket money—we’d both planned around this night for weeks.”
The family has since lodged a formal complaint with SJM Concerts, the event’s organisers. Correspondence seen by local news journalists confirms the incident is now under investigation, with the group requesting either a full refund or tickets to a future Oasis show as compensation for the distress and financial loss endured.
As of now, SJM Concerts have yet to provide an official statement regarding the incident. The story has reignited debate about the standards of crowd management and the level of communication given to concertgoers in such situations. For this Oxfordshire family, what was meant to be a joyous, once-in-a-lifetime evening has instead left them with unanswered questions and a sense of injustice.
Until the investigation concludes, many fans may be left to wonder whether enough is being done to protect the rights of ticket holders at major music events, especially when large sums of money and rare family moments are on the line.