Disabled Oasis fan slams gig-goers for buying access platform tickets in Heaton Park

Daily Mirror

4 days ago

Oasis fan Mark Chapman was left deeply frustrated at the band's iconic reunion gig in Manchester's Heaton Park as 'non-disabled' gig-goers 'took over' the accessible area
Disabled Oasis fan Mark Chapman was stunned at the recent iconic band's reunion show in Manchester when, he claims, dozens of fans on the accessible viewing platform abandoned their wheelchairs and crutches as the band began to play.
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'I couldn't believe it,' said Mark, who has lived with Duchenne muscular dystrophy since childhood and has used a wheelchair since age nine.
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'There were loads of people in wheelchairs and with crutches, but when Oasis came on they all jumped out of their wheelchairs and dropped their crutches and stood up for the whole gig for two hours.'
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Mark, 32, had struggled to secure a space on the platform at Heaton Park on July 12. He claims many what he perceived as non-disabled fans exploited lax verification checks, making it difficult for genuinely disabled people to attend. 'There's people who needed to be there who couldn't,' he said. 'It's really frustrating.'
Carer Sam Priest added: 'We were joking Jesus Christ must have been on the platforms, there were so many miracles performed that night.'
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Despite the disappointment, Mark, a lifelong Oasis fan and seasoned gig-goer, said the night still meant everything. 'At least I was actually there and I could see it and hear it, and I enjoyed it. It was a dream come true, basically.'
Thousands of fans tried their hardest to get their hands on tickets to the Oasis come-back tour after the band haven't performed together for two decades. Liam and Noel Gallagher returned their native Manchester as they performed at Heaton Park in front of 80,000 fans.
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Music podcaster Mark, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, managed to secure last-minute access to the accessible platform thanks to a helpful steward and a waiting list.
What shocked him was seeing so many people using mobility aids one minute, then "dancing and leaving them behind" the next. 'They were literally just standing for the whole time... leaving their wheelchairs and crutches behind.'
Adding to the frustration, some of his disabled friends weren't able to get tickets at all, while resale platforms listed wheelchair tickets for over £600, despite carers' tickets being free when booked properly.
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Still, Mark remained upbeat, crediting his high-tech adjustable wheelchair for giving him a clear view. He even recalled a special moment from his youth: meeting David Beckham, who once donated £30,000 to a charity that helped fund Mark's first power chair.
'He was my idol,' Mark said. 'We went to a party for the World Cup in 2006, and I got a kiss off Victoria. I've not washed my cheek since.'
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In a statement, Ticketmaster said: "To make sure accessible tickets only go to those who need them, we verify all accessible bookings made on Ticketmaster. After purchasing, fans have three weeks to submit their accessibility requirements via their Ticketmaster account or app. If they are unable to do so, those tickets are cancelled.
"The unauthorised resale of accessible tickets for profit on these websites is yet another reason we fully support the Government's proposed industry-wide resale cap. As well as protecting fans from inflated prices by removing the incentive for touts, it would help ensure that accessible tickets are reserved for those who genuinely need them."
Meanwhile, Viagogo, a platform which had accessible tickets priced at £634 for a pair, told the MailOnline: "Viagogo takes the integrity of event access very seriously and all listings have to adhere to our rules and regulations.
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"When sellers list tickets with accessibility designations, such as a wheelchair user, they are required to clearly state this on the listing. Any buyer purchasing one of these tickets will have to provide valid proof of disability before the transaction is able to be completed.
"If the buyer is unable to provide proof then the transaction is cancelled by viagogo. This is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure tickets intended for fans with disabilities are used appropriately and fairly."
The Mirror has approached Live Nation for comment on this story.