Thousands of Oasis fans from across the globe descended upon Manchester’s Heaton Park in July 2025, as the iconic Britpop band’s reunion tour became a catalyst for sustainable change in the city’s music ecosystem. The five sold-out shows, part of the “Oasis Live ’25” tour, marked the band’s first performances since their acrimonious split in 2009 and attracted 80,000 attendees each night, totaling an impressive 400,000 fans across all dates. The subsequent surge in tourism contributed to an impressive 1.3 million music tourists reported in Manchester throughout 2025.
The economic impact of these concerts extended far beyond ticket sales, with Manchester City Council announcing on July 15 that profits from the events would fund a £250,000 initiative supporting local grassroots music venues. This fund, managed in partnership with the Music Venue Trust, aims to secure the future significance of small performance spaces that serve as essential incubators for emerging talent.
“These venues are the lifeblood of our music culture,” noted a council spokesperson during the announcement.
Small music venues form the beating heart of Manchester’s rich cultural tapestry and tomorrow’s stadium headliners.
Technical innovations at the Heaton Park shows included the largest concert screens ever deployed in the UK, setting new standards for production quality in Manchester’s live music scene. The massive display, measuring 272 feet by 39 feet, dwarfed previous concert screen setups and offered unparalleled viewing experiences even for fans at the back of the venue. Fans traveled from as far as Japan, Australia, and Costa Rica to witness the historic reunion, with the July 11 performance being particularly celebrated for its emotional renditions of Manchester anthems that resonated deeply with locals and international visitors alike.
The unprecedented demand for tickets—with an estimated 14 million requests competing for just 1.4 million available seats across UK and Ireland dates—coincided with Oasis’s back catalog surging back into the charts, demonstrating the band’s enduring cultural relevance. The band leveraged social media advertising extensively to build anticipation ahead of the tour announcement, creating a digital frenzy that amplified their comeback’s impact. The band’s merchandise sales skyrocketed, exemplifying how established artists can capitalize on diverse revenue streams beyond just ticket sales. Support acts featured prominent British and international artists, further cementing Manchester’s reputation as a global music hub.
City officials hope this funding model will inspire similar initiatives in other UK cities facing venue closures. As one industry expert observed, “Manchester isn’t just celebrating its musical past with these Oasis shows—it’s actively investing in its future, ensuring the next generation of Manchester bands has spaces to develop their craft before reaching Heaton Park themselves someday.”
