Radiohead fans were left furious after tickets for the band’s first Dublin show since 2008 were reported to have sold out within a minute.
The five-piece – who are also due to headline Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage next June – released tickets for new European shows, including two dates in Manchester and one in Dublin, on Friday morning.
However some fans seeking tickets for the 3Arena show in July 2017 claimed they were told the most-wanted tickets were unavailable before they even went on sale, and that the entire venue was sold out within a minute.
Twitter user K Winston wrote: “Tickets for #Radiohead in Dublin sold out at 9.01?”
Another, Shane Lyons, wrote on the social platform: “(What) is up with @radiohead tickets (for) Dublin being sold out at 9.00am?”
Tickets for #Radiohead in Dublin sold out at 9.01? Wtf?!
— K. Winston (@Moonrise18) November 4, 2016
Wtf is up with @radiohead tickets Dublin being sold out at 9.00am? #Radiohead o.O
— Shane Lyons (@Another_Tool) November 4, 2016
Fan Angie Kenny told the Press Association she had queued at a Ticketmaster store in Dublin from 8am, and said she was told by staff 25 minutes before tickets went on sale that the “only seating available was in the highest tier”.
She said four people were in the queue before 9am, but only one had managed to secure tickets. Ms Kenny said she had been forced to buy tickets for the show at Manchester Arena instead.
Ticketmaster said it was unable to comment, noting that tour promoter SJM Concerts was ultimately responsible for the ticketing of the show.
Never stood a chance. #Radiohead
— Edward Kearns (@kearns_ed_) November 4, 2016
Well, time to get on with the day. pic.twitter.com/n6b2VLEasq
Seriously, though. How DO people get tickets? I'm always there before 9 and they're always sold out. Royally pee'd off... #Radiohead
— Donna Lennard (@DonnaLennardSop) November 4, 2016
I'm starting to wonder if anyone in Dublin got a ticket for #Radiohead that isn't a tout or a bot. What's going on #ticketmaster?
— Darragh Foy (@darragh_foy) November 4, 2016
SJM did not immediately respond to the Press Association’s requests for comment.
To further anger Radiohead fans, tickets appeared to resurface online at several times the face value, despite the band attempting to stamp this out by forcing people to bring ID to shows.
Ticketmaster blocked tickets from availability on its resale sites Getmein and Seatwave.
Ticketing process is clearly corrupt. Standing tickets for a 21000 capacity gone in under a min, loads on sale for £hundreds #radiohead
— Paul McCann (@Plopps67) November 4, 2016
How are all the standing tickets tickets sold out before tickets even go on sale??#Radiohead - what a joke 😣
— Holly (@Hockapocka) November 4, 2016
Whoever is selling these I hope you get a paper cut and infection from the ticket #Radiohead pic.twitter.com/8niVn5z2eR
— Miss andry (@braincavanagh) November 4, 2016
However, an hour after the 9am sale window opened, reselling site StubHub was advertising tickets for the 3Arena gig at €837 each.
Stubhub said: “It is perfectly legal to resell tickets in the UK including on platforms such as StubHub.
Asked if fans who bought tickets would actually be able to attend if unable to match their name to that on the ticket, the company said it would “work on getting the ticket buyer into the venue, or provide them with a full refund”.
StubHub was a sponsor of this week’s Q Awards, at which a number of stars criticised secondary ticket sites.
Among them was James Bay, who said after winning the award for best solo act: “Apologies to my fans for ever having to deal with secondary ticketing sites.
“I hope we see the end of them. They definitely suck.”
