Babies are welcome at this Olivia Dean concert … as long as they have their own ticket

A mother in Australia is facing a dilemma after learning that her newborn infant requires a ticket to attend an upcoming Olivia Dean concert in Sydney. The revelation came after she contacted the venue, Afterpay Arena, to confirm whether her three-month-old son could accompany her during the event. While the venue confirmed that a pram and a small nappy bag would be permitted, it also stated that all attendees, regardless of age, must possess a valid ticket for entry. This means the mother must either buy an additional ticket for her child or forgo the concert altogether. The mother, identified in the letter as Bethany Williams, described how Olivia Dean's music has become intertwined with major life events over the past few years. From celebrating a wedding with a cover of the song Dive to hearing Rein Me In while discovering she was pregnant, Dean’s music has marked key transitions in her life. When tickets for the Sydney arena tour became available in late 2025, Williams and her two sisters secured three seats, beginning a year-long anticipation for the event. As the concert date approaches, Williams finds herself grappling with the logistics of bringing her infant along. Having recently relocated from inner-city Sydney to the Central Coast, she needed to coordinate travel plans and ensure compliance with the venue’s strict bag policy. Her initial inquiry to the venue received a detailed and accommodating response, allowing for a pram and a small nappy bag, provided the latter was not a backpack. However, the requirement that every attendee, including infants, must have a ticket caught her off guard. Williams expressed surprise at the rule, noting that she had not considered the possibility of needing a ticket for her baby. At just under five months old, her son would remain strapped to her body throughout the concert, making it impossible for him to occupy a seat. She emphasized that separating her infant from her body would mean depriving him of essential nourishment during the approximately seven-hour duration of the event. Given that breastfeeding is the primary method of feeding for her family at present, she ruled out leaving the baby at home with her husband. This situation highlights a growing tension between traditional expectations of parental care and modern venue policies. While Williams acknowledges the practicalities of childcare services such as bottle-feeding, daycare, and nannies, she argues that a mother should retain the right to keep her infant close, especially when breastfeeding. The requirement for a ticket, she suggests, seems incongruous with the reality of caring for a young child who cannot independently access food or entertainment. The venue’s policy appears to align with broader industry standards, where many large-scale events require tickets for all attendees, including children. These rules are often implemented to manage crowd capacity, ensure safety, and maintain revenue streams. However, the case of Williams raises questions about the flexibility of such policies in accommodating parents who choose to breastfeed and prefer to keep their infants close. As the concert date draws nearer, Williams continues to weigh her options. Missing the event would mean forgoing a deeply anticipated experience tied to years of personal milestones. Yet, purchasing an extra ticket feels both financially burdensome and logistically unnecessary given the nature of her infant’s presence. Until further clarification or accommodation is offered by the venue, she remains caught between her desire to attend and the constraints imposed by the ticketing system.