Websites Can’t Take That

Thousands of Take That fans were reportedly left empty-handed after a massive Web overload caused ticket sites to crash.

Although there’s still no official word from promoter SJM Concerts on the number of tickets sold and how long it took to sell them, it would appear the act’s reunion tour must have shifted 1 million tickets in 24 hours.

Oct. 29’s sale could well be a UK record for the number of tickets sold in a day, as the following morning the Ticketmaster, Gigsandtours, Ticketline and Ticketfactory sites were all saying they sold out.

Ticketmaster’s website received 20 million page views over the course of the first day, which was “far in excess” of the number recorded when tickets for Michael Jackson’s planned London comeback went on sale.

British Telecom said the national phone network received between three and four times the normal number of calls.

More fans will watch the “Progress Live” tour than any other in UK and Irish history, beating the group’s previous record set in 2009.

“We coped with it in the best way possible,” SJM managing director Simon Moran told BBC News, explaining that the system breakdowns were due to an “absolutely unprecedented” demand for tickets.

Robbie Williams has rejoined the group for the tour and a new album, and the instant sellout was achieved despite SJM adding an extra 10 dates.

Moran’s company isn’t commenting on whether it may be possible to add even more shows, but at the moment the tour is filling 25 nights in UK and Irish sport stadiums.

Tickets for the European leg of the tour go on sale Nov. 5.