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JAMES MCGETRICK SAID HE THOUGHT HE "HIT THE JACKPOT" WHEN HE GOT PRE-SALE TICKETS TO SEE THE BAND 13:41, 20 May 2025 A judge has ruled that Ticketmaster should reimburse an irate
Coldplay fan who found himself squatting in "restricted view" seats, unable to see the band during their sold-out concert in Dublin last year. When the chart-topping band, known
for hits like Fix You and Yellow, announced their Music of the Spheres world tour was coming to Croke Park in the Irish capital, James McGetrick thought he had "hit the jackpot",
but it turned into a "disaster". Dublin District Court heard how he managed to secure pre-sale tickets to attend the gig with his wife on August 29, but on the night, they were
compelled to "crouch down" on their seats near the back of the lower Hogan Stand to catch a glimpse of Chris Martin's band's performance. Mr McGetrick brought a small
claims case against Ticketline Unlimited Company, trading as Ticketmaster. He informed Judge Peter White that they purchased tickets released through the artist pre-sale well before the
general public, reports the Irish Mirror. He forked out €332 for two seats in the lower Hogan Stand. Article continues below On the day of the concert, the couple were directed to the fourth
row from the back of the stand. He explained that the Coldplay stage was "quite elevated" for those standing on the pitch. He described how he and his wife couldn't see the
band from their seats. All the people in front stood up, forcing them to do the same to see over their heads. Mr McGetrick explained that the overhang from the upper Hogan Stand also
obstructed their view. As the concert progressed, people in the seats behind them, who had an even worse view, began to fill the aisle. After enjoying a handful of songs, he and three girls
from the row ahead approached a steward. He claimed they were more engrossed in the concert, hadn't glanced back, and weren't monitoring anything. Mr McGetrick, from Corrib Road,
Terenure, Dublin 6, stated that the stewards then escorted them back up the stand and instructed everyone in the aisles to return to their seats. This turned sour, he said, because "all
those people who were sent back to the seats started to blame myself, now they could not see anything as well". The atmosphere became hostile, with "popcorn and litter being
thrown at us, it was just terrible". The following day, he lodged a complaint with Ticketmaster, who advised him to contact the promoter, MCD. Initially filing his small claim action
against MCD, the District Court ruled he should have brought it against Ticketmaster instead. So, he began the process again with the ticket site, which he said was "just pawning me
off", and he filed a new action in court against them. The company eventually offered a mere €190, but McGetrick persisted with his case, seeking the full amount he paid for the
tickets. He emphasised that when he purchased them, it was never stated that there was a restricted view, and he assumed the seats would be superior because he obtained the tickets via the
artist pre-sale option. "The whole thing was a disaster," he told the court. Article continues below Observing that Ticketmaster failed to attend the hearing to challenge the
action, and considering the account of the experience and evidence of the purchase, Judge White ruled in favour of Mr McGetrick.