Thousands of fans who purchased tickets to see Michael Jackson return to the stage finally have two options for compensation.

AEG, the promoter of Jackson’s “This Is It” tour, will offer ticket holders the option of receiving a full refund, or the physical ticket – which was designed by Jackson – as a keepsake. 

Fifty sold-out shows for the concert series at London’s O2 Arena equated to nearly one million tickets purchased, valued at $85 million. AEG is hoping that fans choose to receive the ticket – which they believe will become a collector’s item – in lieu of the refund, so they can absorb some of the bill, which exceeds $300 million.

According to UK newspaper The Telegraph, fans are outraged at the announcement. Some view the move as a manner to keep the cash rather than give the fans the appropriate refund, and many took to the internet to express their anger.

"I had tickets to the opening night and I think it's awful that AEG are exploiting the fans by making them pay full concert price for the souvenir tickets. If they really wanted to treat us with 'reverence and respect' then they would offer the refund AND the tickets, and not make this blatant attempt to cover their financial losses," a fan said, according to the paper.

Ticket holders that choose to receive the commemorative ticket must apply for it by August 14. There is no closing date for full refunds for tickets purchased through ticketing agents such as Ticketmaster, Viagogo, See, Ticketline or Seatwave; however, those who bought tickets on eBay will be left out in the cold.