As ‘non-disabled’ gig-goers’ took control of the accessible area of Manchester’s Heaton Park, Oasis fan Mark Chapman was left deeply irritated by the band’s iconic reunion gig in the city’s accessible space.
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.
Mark, who has used a wheelchair since he was nine and has lived with Duchenne muscular dystrophy since he was a child, said, “I couldn’t believe it.”
When Oasis arrived, “all of the people in their wheelchairs and with crutches jumped out of their wheelchairs, dropped their crutches, and stood up for the entire performance for two hours” said one witness.
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.”
There were so many miracles performed that night, according to Carer Sam Priest, who added, “We were jokeing that Jesus Christ must have been on the platforms.”
Despite the disappointment, Mark, a lifelong Oasis fan and frequent performer, said the evening was still meaningful. “At least I was there, and I enjoyed it because I could hear and see it.” Basically, it was a dream come true.
After the band’s split from Oasis for 20 years, thousands of fans made an effort to get their hands on the band’s come-back tour tickets. In front of 80 000 fans at Heaton Park, Liam and Noel Gallagher brought back their hometown of Manchester.
Thanks to a friendly steward and a waiting list, music podcaster Mark from Wilmslow, Cheshire, was able to last-minute access the accessible platform.
He was shocked to see so many people using mobility aids the first, the second, and then “dancing and leaving them behind” They literally sat there in their wheelchairs and crutches the entire time.
Some of his disabled friends were unable to purchase tickets altogether, and resale websites listed wheelchair tickets for more than £600, despite carers’ tickets being provided for free when properly booked.
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 remarked. I kissed Victoria at a party held for the World Cup in 2006. Since then, I haven’t washed my cheeks.
We verify all accessible bookings made on Ticketmaster in a statement from Ticketmaster to ensure that only those who need them are given access to them. Fans have three weeks to submit their accessibility requests via their Ticketmaster app or app after making a purchase. These tickets are canceled if they are unable to do so.
We fully support the Government’s proposed industry-wide resale cap, adding that the unauthorised resale of accessible tickets for profit on these websites is yet another reason. By removing the incentive for touts, it would help ensure that accessible tickets are only offered to those who actually need them, protecting fans from inflated prices.
Meanwhile, Viagogo, a platform that offered accessible tickets for a pair for £634, stated to the MailOnline: “Viagogo takes the integrity of event access very seriously and all listings must follow our rules and regulations.
“When sellers list tickets with accessibility designations, such as for a wheelchair user, they must state this on the listing in full. Before the transaction can be completed, any buyer purchasing one of these tickets must present valid proof of disability.
“The transaction is cancelled by viagogo if the buyer is unable to provide proof.” As part of our ongoing efforts, we want to use tickets that are appropriate and fair for fans with disabilities.
The Mirror has approached Live Nation for comment on this story.
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Source: Mirror
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