The Lady Gaga Manchester Ticket Chaos: Fans Left Frustrated
- Ellie Waiton
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
The ticket presale for Lady Gaga’s Manchester show on 31st March turned into a mess for thousands of fans trying to grab seats at the Co-op Live venue. The process, handled by Ticketmaster, left many disappointed and questioning whether the system was fair at all.

Tickets Disappearing Instantly
Many fans reported that the moment they were allowed to try and pick tickets, everything was already gone. Tickets seemed to vanish before people even had a chance to select them. This led to widespread speculation that bots may have been involved, snatching up seats within seconds and leaving genuine fans empty-handed.
Queue Chaos
Ticketmaster allowed around 45,000 people into the queue, far more than the venue’s actual capacity. With a max capacity significantly lower, most fans never really stood a chance. Even those who joined the queue early found themselves staring at an empty ticket selection page before they could even pick a seat.
False Bot Detection
Adding to the frustration, some fans were kicked out of the queue after being flagged as “bots,” despite being real users simply trying to secure a ticket. This added another layer of confusion and anger, especially for those who were waiting patiently and following the process correctly.
Sky-High Prices
The pricing didn’t help either. Fans described the ticket costs as extortionate, with many being priced out even if they had the chance to buy. Combined with the stress of the queue and technical issues, it felt like a lose-lose situation for a lot of people.
A Missed Opportunity for Thousands
As a result of all these issues, thousands of fans missed out on tickets and felt robbed of a fair opportunity. The system didn’t appear to reward those who joined the queue early or followed the rules. Many were left disappointed, and a lot of them have taken to social media to voice their frustration.
Whether it was due to bots, an overloaded queue, or just poor planning, one thing’s for sure, the 31st March Lady Gaga ticket presale left a lot to be desired. Fans are now calling for more transparent and fair systems moving forward.