City council to charge Oasis for concert costs

Council taxpayers will not foot the bill for Manchester’s hosting of Oasis’ huge hometown shows in the city next year.

The Gallagher brothers have reunited to play in a UK, Ireland, and North American tour in 2025. It includes five nights at Manchester's Heaton Park, where an estimated 80,000 fans will attend.

The 600-acre park is no stranger to hosting large events, being home to the Parklife music festival every year and The Stone Roses’ reunion in 2012. It is owned by Manchester City Council.

The authority has confirmed it is following other councils by charging Oasis themselves for additional costs such as extra toilets and security arrangements.

The concerts will come at no extra cost to the public purse, the council confirmed.

Oasis are also set to play at Murrayfield in Scotland, where Taylor Swift performed earlier this summer.

Edinburgh Council had to fork out £40,000 for costs associated with hosting the American pop star but now has new rules which mean Oasis will be billed for work done by authority to make the comeback shows happen.

John Hacking, Manchester's executive councillor for leisure, confirmed the council will adopt a similar policy.

“The staging of next year’s concerts at Heaton Park come at no cost to the public purse," he said.

“Obligations are placed on the concert organisers as part of licensing requirements for them to provide all necessary infrastructure and services needed to support the concerts, and any additional costs outside of the licence are met through the charges levied to hire the space."

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