Mark Chapman, 32, has accused non-disabled fans of taking advantage of lax checks after he struggled to get a space on the accessible platform at Heaton Park on Saturday, July 12.
An avid Oasis fan who is disabled was left appalled when numerous fans in the accessible area at one of the band’s Manchester concerts abandoned their wheelchairs and crutches to stand as soon as the music began.
Mark Chapman, 32, has levelled accusations against non-disabled fans for exploiting weak checks after he faced difficulties securing a spot on the accessible platform at Heaton Park on Saturday, July 12.
Resale websites like Viagogo have been marketing tickets labelled as ‘wheelchair and companion seat’ for a staggering £634 each for two people – even though companion tickets are provided at no extra cost when booked through official channels.
READ MORE: Nationwide paying £380 into bank accounts
Get our best money saving tips and hacks by signing up to our newsletter
Mark, who has been unable to walk since the age of nine, described it as ‘biblical’ how ‘half’ of the 150 fans on the platform managed to discard their mobility aids once the Gallagher brothers commenced their performance.
He recounted: “There were loads of people in wheelchairs and with crutches, but when Oasis came on they all jumped out of their wheelchairs and dropped their crutches and stood up for the whole gig for two hours.
“Me being quite severely disabled, I know that standing up for two hours is very, very unlikely.”
Carer Sam Priest, accompanying Mark, remarked: “We were joking, Jesus Christ must have been on the platforms, there were so many miracles performed that night.”
Mark received a diagnosis of the life-limiting condition Duchenne muscular dystrophy at the tender age of five.
The music podcaster, a die-hard Oasis fan for a quarter of a century and veteran of over 100 gigs last year, including seeing Liam Gallagher live solo eight times, was over the moon when the band announced their reunion. Mark, hailing from Wilmslow, Cheshire, couldn’t wait to see them.
However, his excitement hit a snag when he discovered that the wheelchair-accessible platform for the concert was already full, leaving many of his friends who also use wheelchairs unable to secure tickets.
Undeterred, Mark shelled out £280 for two general admission tickets, but fortunately managed to get a refund for one and swap it for a complimentary carer’s ticket after contacting the event organisers.
At the gig, helpful stewards put Mark on a standby list for the accessible area in case of any no-shows, which luckily paid off.
But Mark was gobsmacked to see that during the concert, over half of the roughly 150 fans in the designated area were able to stand and dance, frequently leaving their wheelchairs or crutches behind to mingle with pals in front of the platform.
Mark expressed his dismay: “They were literally just standing for the whole time, they kept leaving the platform and joining their friends in front of the platform and leaving their wheelchairs behind and crutches behind, and when they went to the toilet.”
He added, “It’s really frustrating. I could see people in front of the platform who were clearly struggling who had to stand there without a seat, and there were people on the platform who didn’t need to be there.”
Mark, who is disabled, shared his frustration about the ticketing process for a recent gig, noting that many of his friends with disabilities didn’t get any tickets at all. “A lot of my friends applied who were also disabled and they didn’t get any tickets whatsoever. It was frustrating knowing that there were people who needed to be there who couldn’t.”
Despite these challenges, Mark described the concert as a transformative experience. He said: “At least I was actually there and I could see it and hear it, and I enjoyed it. It was a dream come true, basically.”
Thanks to a state-of-the-art wheelchair that elevates him to eye level, Mark was able to enjoy the gig above the crowd.
Mark has had memorable encounters in the past, including meeting his hero David Beckham at age 11, who donated £30,000 to a charity that helped purchase a £5,000 powered wheelchair for him.
He even got to attend a World Cup party at Beckham’s home, where he received a kiss from Victoria Beckham. Mark said: “He was my idol, him and Robbie Williams were my idols growing up. He’s a very nice guy.
“We went to a party for the World Cup in 2006, and I got a kiss off Victoria. I’ve not washed my cheek since.”
Ticketmaster and Live Nation have been contacted for a statement.