Author: Mark Sweney

Oasis fans are expected to splash out more than £1bn on the reunion tour including tickets, accommodation, food, drink, outfits and merchandise, according to research that found a quarter of ticket holders would have been happy to spend even more.The band’s comeback concerts after a 15-year hiatus are expected to be the most popular, and profitable, run of gigs in British history.Research by Wonderwallets, part of the Barclays Consumer Spend report, estimates £1.06bn will be spent by the 1.4 million fans attending the 17 UK tour dates – more than £766 a person.However, the excitement around once again being able to see the Mancunian band live has been marred by a scandal over “dynamic” ticket pricing, which led to some fans paying more than £350 for tickets with a face value of £150, and has prompted an investigation by the UK competition watchdog.Nevertheless, six in 10 ticket holders said that while they had spent more than planned on tickets they believed the experience of seeing Liam and Noel Gallagher finally bury the hatchet would be worth it, with 24% saying they wish they had spent more to secure better tickets.Aside from tickets, fans are expected to spend the most on accommodation, an average of £108. Travel and new outfits for the concert will also attract a considerable spend, calculated at £70.50 and £73.70, respectively, while an average of £59.70 will be spent on merchandise.More than £75 will be spent on pre-concert food and drinks, while the cost of a pint at venues such as Wembley Stadium and Manchester’s Heaton Park will hit about £8.Almost 30% of fans surveyed said they intended to embrace 90s fashion trends at the concert, sporting baggy jeans, tracksuit jackets and trainers, while 14% are going as far as sporting a haircut inspired by the Gallagher brothers.The £1.06bn exceeds the estimate Barclays made for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour of £997m, although Oasis are playing two more nights than the US singer’s UK tour last year.In justifying the cost, 16% of fans said they had bought tickets as a gift, while 30% described it as a “sentimental purchase” due to the significance the band’s music had played in their life.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionBarclays said the Oasis spending spree was part of encouraging signs in the hospitality and leisure industries, with overall consumer confidence in spending on non-essential items – such as concert tickets, experiences and other events – surging 60% in April to the highest point in three years.“The experience economy is no longer a trend, it is a fundamental shift in how consumers determine their financial priorities,” said Rich Robinson, the head of hospitality and leisure at Barclays.“Just as we saw with the Eras Tour, fans are willing to go to great lengths when there is an emotional connection. It isn’t just about attending the event.”