Sam Fender has removed a ticket category and reduced prices for his UK stadium tour, including his show at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium, after saying he was unhappy with the original pricing.
The singer-songwriter from North Shields is due to play the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, July 17 next year, as part of his Proper Massive Stadium Tour '27, with further summer shows in Newcastle, Cardiff, London, Edinburgh and Dublin.
The 32-year-old had vowed to change ticket prices after replying to an Instagram post claiming standing tickets would cost up to £130.75. He said he was 'not happy with these prices' and claimed they were 'getting changed.'
Front Standing Removed
In a post on his Instagram page on Saturday evening, Fender said he had secured the removal of a ticket category and a reduction in prices.
He wrote: "I've managed to get front standing tickets removed from the UK stadium tour. Whoever buys a standing ticket gets as much chance as anyone to be at the front. No more 120 quid standing tickets either."
He added: "Costs are astronomical compared to two years ago, I can't control the venue and ticketing fees, that's a sad reality of today's industry. This is gonna be the biggest and best show we've ever put on. Can't wait to see everyone on the road next summer."
New Ticket Prices
Fender confirmed the new pricing: general admission standing at £85, and seats at £95, £75 and £55. Prices exclude venue and ticket company fees, plus a £1 per ticket contribution to Live Trust, which supports the grassroots music ecosystem in the UK.
The Instagram post Fender was replying to, by a user called Gavin Davis, claimed that before the changes, standing tickets at Wembley Stadium would have been split into 'front standing' at £130.75 and 'standing' at £98.85. It also said seating prices at the venue would have ranged between £64.75 and £130.75.
The post claimed the highest ticket price in Newcastle would have been £112.90, the top price in Cardiff was £119, and the highest price in Edinburgh was £120.95. It said the top price in Manchester would have been £119.60, but did not have information for the Dublin gig.
Fender said in response: "It got inflated well more than I'd had in mind, it should only be inflated in relation to the cost of putting the show on. The standing will not be split as well, I had no idea about it. I have no idea how this was normalised in gigs. It's bollocks and it won't be happening on this tour."
Chart Success
Fender has achieved four UK top 10 singles and three UK number one albums. His Rein Me In duet with Olivia Dean reached number one on the singles chart and became the longest-running number-one single in UK music history, spending 23 weeks at the top.
Some of his best-known songs include Hypersonic Missiles, Seventeen Going Under and People Watching. Fender won the Mercury Prize in 2025 for the People Watching album.
