U2 fans who attended the band’s tour 2017 opener in Vancouver are to be offered compensation by both Ticketmaster and the BC Place venue because of admission issues that caused some to miss part of the show.
The Ticketing Business reported in May that the biggest ever deployment of Ticketmaster credit card-check technology led to fans queuing for hours ahead of the opening night of the Joshua Tree 2017 world tour.
Fans have now been told that Ticketmaster is to send C$50 (£30/$39/€34) gift cards for each ticket bought, for use against future events.
BC Place is also offering free admission to a Vancouver Whitecaps Major League Soccer match or BC Lions Canadian Football League game, with a $20 food and beverage voucher attached to each entry.
In an email sent to ticket-holders, reported by the Vancouver Sun, officials from the 55,000-capacity venue said: “BC Place is dedicated to delivering excellent customer service at every event, and we acknowledge that on this occasion we let you down.”
BC Place points to Ticketmaster system
Many fans missed parts of opening act Mumford and Sons’ set, while some complained about the length of time they were waiting and alleged safety concerns. The band took to the stage later than planned to make sure all fans were inside the arena.
BC Place officials said at the time that delays were because of a new ticket system from Ticketmaster used by the band. However, some fans alleged that just one entrance was opened for general admission tickets, with four for seated areas.
According to the Vancouver Sun, many fans are pleased with the offer, however some want a refund rather than a Ticketmaster voucher. The newspaper reports that others are interested in the possibility of a class action lawsuit.
“I’m sure if 5,000 people signed up to get a full refund we would have gotten something better,” U2 fan Brenda Brophy told the Vancouver Sun.
Ticketmaster provides artists with the option to use a credit card-based entry system, where guests must present the credit card they purchased the ticket with at the door. The card is scanned by door staff and verified before patrons are let inside.
IMAGE: GoToVan/Flickr
Share this