Category: In Business

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Oasis reunion tour set to deliver £940 million boost to UK economy
by Richard Alvin, Business Matters

The long-awaited reunion of British rock icons Oasis is not just a cultural milestone — it’s shaping up to be a major economic event. According to new research from Novuna Personal Finance, the Oasis Live ’25 tour is expected to generate over £940 million in fan spending across 17 shows in London, Manchester, Cardiff, and Edinburgh between July and September 2025.

Almost 1.4 million fans are anticipated to attend the tour, spending an average of £682.80 per person on tickets, travel, food, drink, accommodation, and shopping. While the total spend mirrors the nearly £1 billion generated by Taylor Swift’s 2024 Eras Tour, Novuna estimates that the net economic impact of the Oasis tour will reach £274.4 million — more than double the £122 million reported for Swift’s UK shows.

Much of that value is expected to stay within local communities, with 57.9% of the total spend — equivalent to £544.9 million — projected to flow directly into the economies of the four host cities.

Spending surge across key categories

Food and drink tops the list of expenditures, with fans expected to spend £219 million, or an average of £159 per person. Ticket sales are set to bring in £217 million, with average prices around £157.50 — notably lower than Swift’s reported £206 average.

Fans are also expected to spend £188 million on shopping and local attractions, and £166 million on travel including public transport, fuel, and taxis. Each concert is projected to generate over £55 million in local spending, with London shows peaking at £60.9 million per night.

City-by-city breakdown

London, hosting seven dates at Wembley Stadium, is expected to attract 630,000 fans, generating £426.3 million in total spending and a net economic impact of £109.3 million.

Manchester, the band’s hometown, is set to benefit from five shows at Heaton Park, driving £277 million in spending — around a third of the national total — and delivering £95.7 million in economic impact to the city.

Cardiff and Edinburgh are forecast to see £26.8 million and £42.6 million in economic benefit respectively, as fans travel from across the UK and abroad to see the Gallagher brothers perform together again.

Overnight visitors deliver greater value

While day-trippers are expected to account for the largest share of overall spending — approximately £376 million — it’s the overnight visitors who deliver the biggest return per head. These fans are projected to spend an average of £806.50, nearly 20% more than the typical attendee, and are staying for an average of 2.19 nights, rising to 2.48 in Manchester and 3.2 in Edinburgh.

Local residents, though spending slightly less at £590.30 per person, still contribute significantly to local business and public transport usage.

A home-grown economic phenomenon

Theresa Lindsay, Chief Marketing Officer at Novuna Personal Finance, said the tour represents more than just a musical comeback.

“The Oasis reunion is more than a once-in-a-generation music event — it’s a serious economic opportunity. With nearly 60% of spending staying in local communities, this tour is set to deliver a powerful and lasting boost to high streets, hospitality, and tourism across the UK.”

“While fans may spend slightly less per head than Swifties, Oasis’s impact could be greater — because so much of that spend supports regional economies, not just the entertainment industry. It’s a home-grown success story with national economic reach.”

With shows selling out and excitement building across generations of fans, Oasis Live ’25 is expected to be one of the biggest tours of the year — and one of the most economically impactful in British music history.

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