What started as a dream come true for lifelong Oasis fan Mark Chapman quickly turned into a frustrating and surreal experience.
As thousands of fans gathered at Manchester’s Heaton Park to witness the iconic band’s reunion, something completely unexpected unfolded in the designated accessible viewing section—people who appeared to be wheelchair users suddenly standing up and dancing for hours.
A Superfan’s Long-Awaited Moment
Mark Chapman, 32, from Wilmslow in Cheshire, has been a passionate Oasis fan for decades.
Despite being diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at just five years old—a condition that has left him unable to walk since he was nine—he’s continued to attend live music shows regularly.
In fact, he went to more than 100 gigs last year and has watched Liam Gallagher perform solo on eight different occasions.
So when the announcement came that Oasis would reunite, Mark was beyond thrilled.
But his excitement was quickly overshadowed by what he described as “biblical” scenes in the accessible area, where fans who had entered in wheelchairs or with crutches suddenly abandoned them when the Gallagher brothers hit the stage.
Standing Ovation… or Faking It?
Mark shared images and videos on social media showing empty wheelchairs and discarded crutches scattered around the raised platform—a section specifically designed for those who are genuinely unable to stand.
What stunned him most was seeing these same individuals, who initially entered looking like they had mobility issues, suddenly standing and dancing for the entirety of the two-hour concert.
He couldn’t help but question how such a situation could occur, especially when fans with real disabilities like himself had such a hard time getting access to the designated section.
The Battle to Get Tickets
Mark wasn’t even able to secure accessible tickets at first.
He had to buy regular admission tickets for himself and his carer, Sam Priest.
Typically, carers are granted free companion tickets, but the high demand—and apparent misuse of the system—meant that even that wasn’t possible.
Eventually, after explaining his situation to the event organizers, Mark got a refund for Sam’s ticket and was placed on a waiting list to enter the accessible area.
Meanwhile, secondary ticket sites like Viagogo were selling those same accessible tickets for jaw-dropping prices—up to £634 per pair.
That’s despite the fact that official ticket channels include companion seats at no extra cost.
“It Was Like a Miracle Performance – Literally”
Watching people rise out of their wheelchairs and dance like nothing was wrong led Mark and Sam to joke that “Jesus Christ must have been on the platform.”
But for Mark, it wasn’t funny—it was infuriating.
He emphasized that for someone with severe mobility issues, standing for two hours isn’t just unlikely—it’s virtually impossible.
“It felt like a slap in the face,” he said.
“It was clear these people weren’t disabled. They kept leaving the platform, going to the toilets or joining friends down front, leaving wheelchairs and crutches behind.”
Real Fans Left Behind
Mark wasn’t the only one who noticed the unfairness.
Many of his disabled friends weren’t able to attend at all due to the scarcity of accessible tickets.
Meanwhile, people who didn’t appear to need the platform were occupying that valuable space.
“It was heartbreaking knowing genuine fans were missing out because of this abuse,” he added.
Another disabled fan, Daniel Tester, 37, who has cerebral palsy, also had trouble accessing the platform.
His sister Jemma tried but failed to get accessible seating tickets, and Daniel ended up being lifted up by kind strangers in the crowd so he could see the show.
Despite the beautiful act of solidarity, it still begged the question: why couldn’t someone like Daniel get a seat in the area designed for him?
Ongoing Ticket Abuse Sparks Outrage
The chaos at the Heaton Park gig seems to be part of a bigger issue.
Accessible tickets for upcoming shows, including those at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium, are already being resold on Viagogo for nearly £800.
Some general admission tickets have been listed for over £7,000.
Ticketmaster has promised to cancel thousands of these resold tickets, and the UK government is now reviewing how to clamp down on professional touting after holding a public consultation earlier this year.
But for now, fans with real accessibility needs continue to face massive hurdles while opportunists dance their way into restricted spaces.
Looking Ahead as the Tour Rolls On
Despite the frustrating experience, Mark still describes the night as unforgettable—just not in the way he’d hoped.
“Oasis reuniting was the miracle I was expecting,” he said.
“Seeing people fake disability to get a better view wasn’t the one I had in mind.”
As the band continues touring across the UK, Ireland, and North America, fans are hoping for tighter regulations, better ticket verification, and most of all, fairness—so that no one with genuine needs is left out of the magic.