### Oasis Fans Left Out in the Cold as Hospitality Ticket Scam Unfolds at Cardiff Gigs
A significant number of Oasis fans were left disappointed and out of pocket after discovering, upon arrival at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, that the hospitality box tickets they had purchased did not exist. Many devotees had transferred hundreds, in some cases thousands, of pounds for what they believed to be premium access to watch the highly anticipated gigs, only to be turned away at the gate.
South Wales Police confirmed that a 42-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation in connection with the alleged sale of these fraudulent tickets. He remains in custody as the investigation continues, reflecting the seriousness of the claims being made by affected concertgoers.
Eve Siggins, from Newport, had gathered a group of 13 friends and family, many of whom had travelled considerable distances from York, Essex, and Wiltshire, for what was intended to be a memorable evening. The group collectively paid £3,500, only to realise at the stadium gates that their hospitality experience was nothing more than an illusion. Ms Siggins had previously attended events in the hospitality boxes with the same individual who had orchestrated the ticket sales, lending an air of credibility to his approach.
She recalled that after tour dates for Oasis were announced, the man in question immediately contacted her group, suggesting they share a box once again. However, in the days leading up to the concert, communication dried up, and frantic attempts to reach him proved fruitless. Eventually, stadium staff confirmed there was no booking in his name, prompting Eve and her companions to realise they had fallen victim to a scam. “Two of our group gave away their valid tickets for Friday night, thinking they’d be joining us,” she said. “We feel terrible for letting them down.”
Dave Thomas from Blackwood experienced a similar ordeal. He parted with £1,000 for four hospitality tickets, intending to take his two children and daughter’s boyfriend to the show. Having previously bought tickets from the same person for other events at the stadium, Mr Thomas had seen no red flags. As the gig approached and tickets failed to materialise, anxiety grew. He was reassured by the seller via phone that technical issues related to a change of phone number were to blame. On the day, Dave and his family travelled to Cardiff, only to be left stranded outside their agreed meeting point when the seller did not appear.
Upon approaching stadium staff, Dave found himself among around 20 others reporting the same dilemma. “It turns out we were far from alone,” he remarked, noting that the scam appeared to have ensnared dozens, if not more.
Mark Bonnici from Caerphilly had trusted the seller after successfully purchasing hospitality tickets for rugby matches. He spent £1,200 for four tickets for himself, his daughter, and two friends. As with others, he was told to meet at a specific gate, but stadium hospitality staff informed him that numerous people had already reported the issue. “It was humiliating. We’d all been ripped off,” Mark told local media. His daughter, Jessica, echoed disbelief, saying the scammer had built trust among regular stadium-goers, making the deception all the more shocking.
Neil Stephens from Crumlin recounted that his group of six paid £250 each, jumping at the opportunity to avoid the rush and randomness of general release tickets. When he queried the status of their booking, he was told tickets had been sent to an old phone number, but a final check with stadium staff confirmed there was no reservation. “My wife’s a lifelong Oasis fan and she’s devastated,” he said.
Melissa Price, another fan from Blackwood, similarly purchased two tickets, paying £600 in November with assurances of a seamless experience. Like others, she was directed to meet the scammer outside the stadium, only to discover the tickets were non-existent.
Dyfed Powys Police are continuing their investigation and have advised anyone affected by such scams to report incidents online to Action Fraud. The Principality Stadium has said it is aware of the situation but has yet to issue a formal statement.
The incident is a stark reminder of the risks associated with secondary ticket markets, even when sellers come with personal recommendations. As police urge vigilance, fans have been left counting the cost—financially and emotionally—of a night that will linger in memory for all the wrong reasons.