Sam Fender's Newcastle pre-sale delayed 24 hours after "sophisticated bot attack" on Gigantic
Sam Fender said promoters told him a "sophisticated bot attack" on the Gigantic ticket site was disrupting the St James' Park pre-sale, so it moved from 9.30am Wednesday 28 October to 9.30am Thursday. General sale is still due on Friday 30 October.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Sam Fender said on 28 October that the pre-sale for his Newcastle St James' Park concerts was being moved because of a "sophisticated bot attack" on the ticket site. GB NewsR “Sam Fender's eagerly anticipated pre-sale for his 2027 homecoming concerts at Newcastle's St James' Park was thrown into chaos this morning” Read at GB News ↗ Evening StandardN “Fender said this morning that he has been informed by promoters that there has been a “sophisticated bot attack” which is impacting the Newcastle ticket sales.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2According to GB News, he confirmed the disruption on Instagram Stories shortly after the 9:30am launch time, saying the promoters had told him the attack was hitting the Gigantic site, and that the pre-sale would move to 9.30am the next day (Thursday) to ensure real fans get tickets. GB NewsR “We're going to have to move the Newcastle pre-sale to 9.30am tomorrow to ensure real fans get the tickets.” Read at GB News ↗ Evening StandardN “He confirmed that the St James’ Park pre-sale is being moved now to Thursday.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Right · 1GB News reported that fans who had pre-ordered his fourth album to get early access were locked out, with some seeing "bad gateway" errors and others ejected from the site after adding tickets to their baskets; several posted angry complaints, some aimed at Gigantic. GB NewsR “Many reported encountering "bad gateway" errors, while others said they had been booted from the site after managing to add tickets to their baskets.” Read at GB News ↗
Mixed · 2General sale for the wider UK and Ireland stadium tour is due at 9.30am on Friday 30 October, and the Evening Standard says people can buy then without having registered beforehand. GB NewsR “Tickets for the wider UK and Ireland stadium tour will then become available to the general public at 9:30am on Friday, October 30.” Read at GB News ↗ Evening StandardN “Anyone can try to purchase general admission tickets, even if you did not register beforehand.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Right · 1The two Newcastle homecoming shows are on Thursday 3 June and Saturday 5 June 2027. GB News says St James' Park was the only venue on the tour to use Gigantic rather than Ticketmaster, and that no explanation was given for the choice. GB NewsR “The two homecoming gigs are scheduled for Thursday, June 3 and Saturday, June 5, 2027, at Newcastle United's ground.”“St James' Park was the only venue on the tour to use Gigantic rather than Ticketmaster.” Read at GB News ↗ Mixed · 2The tour also visits Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester, Dublin and London (Wembley), and ties in with Fender's fourth album, announced this month and expected in "mid 2027". GB NewsR “which will also visit Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester and Dublin alongside a London date at Wembley Stadium.” Read at GB News ↗ Evening StandardN “It is expected to drop in “mid 2027”.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Mixed · 2Both outlets note that the previous week Fender publicly objected to the pricing and had it changed. The premium front-standing tier, listed at up to £130.75 with fees for Wembley, was scrapped. Standing tickets are £85 and seats £55, £75 or £95, all before fees. GB NewsR “standing tickets across the UK stadium shows were set at £85 excluding fees, with seated options priced at £55, £75 or £95.” Read at GB News ↗ Evening StandardN “The previously-announced front standing option, which would see fans buy pricier tickets as high as £130 to stand closer to the stage, has been scrapped.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Fender said that costs are "astronomical" compared with two years ago and that he cannot control venue and ticketing fees. The Standard adds that the prices exclude a £1 ticket contribution to Live Trust, which supports grassroots venues. Evening StandardN “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.”“It also excludes the £1 ticket contribution to Live Trust, which supports grassroots venues, Fender confirmed.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Right · 1The attack is described only as Fender relayed it from the promoters. Neither outlet gives independent confirmation, a comment from Gigantic, or details of the attackers. GB NewsR “Being told by the promoters that there's been a sophisticated bot attack to the gigantic ticket site which is impacting the St James' Park pre-sale.” Read at GB News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Service-style explainer on the 2027 tour, with the bot attack and delay as one part alongside prices and dates.
- Emphasis
- Prices, the scrapped front-standing tier, registration and general-sale details, and Fender's role in lowering fees.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives no fan reaction or error reports, and does not say Gigantic is the platform involved or that it is the only non-Ticketmaster venue; it says tickets are "now on sale" before explaining the delay.
- Charged language
- “bulls****”“astronomical”
- For example
-
“Tickets for Sam Fender’s upcoming UK and Ireland tour are now on sale, however a “sophisticated bot attack” has resulted in some pre-sale tickets being postponed.” — Evening Standard
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with fan anger and chaos: fans "left fuming" by the delay, with the Gigantic site failing and fans locked out.
- Emphasis
- Fan complaints on X, error messages, Gigantic being the only non-Ticketmaster venue and the lack of explanation for that.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention that the general sale is open to unregistered buyers or the Live Trust contribution.
- Charged language
- “left fuming”“thrown into chaos”“Fury erupted”
- For example
-
“Fury erupted across social media as fans who had pre-ordered Mr Fender's forthcoming fourth album specifically to gain early access found themselves locked out of the purchase process.” — GB News
What every side reports
- Fender said promoters told him a "sophisticated bot attack" was affecting the Newcastle pre-sale.
- The Newcastle pre-sale moved to 9.30am on Thursday.
- General sale is at 9.30am on Friday 30 October.
- Fender had the pricing lowered and the front-standing tier scrapped; standing is £85 and seats £55/£75/£95 before fees.
Where accounts differ
-
Status of tickets on 28 October
- Centre
- Says tickets are "now on sale" but some pre-sale tickets were postponed; the Standard's text implies only the Newcastle pre-sale moved.
- Right
- Pre-sale was pushed back 24 hours after fans were locked out of the site.
-
Fender's wording on why the pre-sale moved
- Centre
- Quotes him as saying "real fans get real tickets".
- Right
- Quotes him as saying "real fans get the tickets".
Sam Fender person
Says promoters told him of a bot attack, moved the Newcastle pre-sale to protect real fans, and earlier pushed to lower prices and scrap the front-standing tier.
“We're going to have to move the Newcastle pre-sale to 9.30am tomorrow to ensure real fans get the tickets.” — GB News
“I can’t control the venue and ticketing fees, that’s a sad reality of today’s industry.” — Evening Standard
Gigantic organisation
Named as the site hit by the attack; neither article carries a comment from it. Fans criticised it as unprepared.
“Gigantic, you are a disgrace.” — GB News
St James' Park place
Venue of the two 2027 homecoming shows, which Fender previously sold out in 2023 and 2025.
“having previously played sold-out shows there in both 2023 and 2025.” — GB News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
-
Sam Fender 2027 tour: 'Sophisticated bot attack' sees pre-sale tickets delayed
Neutral Practical guide to tickets and prices that treats the bot attack as a scheduling change and credits Fender for cutting fees.
Right1 article
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GB NewsR ·
Alarmist Dramatises the delay as chaos and fan fury, quoting angry posts and pointing at Gigantic's preparedness.
- 28 Oct 11:47 First GB NewsR Sam Fender fans left fuming as singer forced to delay pre-sale tour tickets after 'sophisticated bot attack'
- 28 Oct 14:12 +2h 25m Evening StandardN Sam Fender 2027 tour: 'Sophisticated bot attack' sees pre-sale tickets delayed
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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