Events presenter AEG Presents announced that they will offer ticket buyers a refund for the concerts that were hit by the COVID-19 pandemic starting May 1.
An AEG representative told Billboard ticketholders will have a month following the announcement of the cancellation of a concert to seek a refund from the promoter. For example, if the event was canceled on April 17, the customer can wait until May 16 for a refund. Ticket holders of events rescheduled or cancelled on March can avail of the refund starting May 1.
Tickets for shows that are yet announcing there reschedule or cancelation will not be eligible for refunds. For those who bought tickets of concerts that were cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic, fans can expect an automatic refund.
AEG Presents is known for promoting concerts and music events every year. Some of the events being promoted are Coachella, Stagecoach, Hangout Fest and more.
The Case of StubHub
The refund policy of AEG was done after a $5 million-lawsuit was filed against StubHub over the secondary ticketing platform's policy change to only offer coupons worth 120% of the purchase price of bought tickers in lieu of refunds. The refund policy was implemented last March 20 after many events all across the country were struck by the coronavirus pandemic.
The case was filed in the U.S. District Court by Matthew McMillan after StubHub did not refund the money he spent on a suspended NHL game. StubHub, on the other hand, said that while the refunds would be still available for cancelled events, there will be coupons that StubHub will offer for 120% of the original price as a replacement, according to its president Sukhinder Singh Cassidt.
On March 25 however, the company revised its policy. The policy said that "if the event is canceled and not rescheduled, you will get a refund or credit to use on a future purchase, as determined in StubHub's discretion (unless a refund is required by law)." On March 30, the company said they are facing delays in recouping funds from its sellers due to the impact of the pandemic.
The changes in refund policy made McMillan file a case against StubHub. McMillan's camp said that promising refunds or expired coupons during a crisis is cruel and wrong, as told by McMillan's lawyer, Nick Coulson to Billboard. StubHub did not comment on the issue.
Cancellations in Colorado
Aside from refunding tickets, AEG Presents announced on NBC 9News Colorado that some of the concerts in the state were cancelled. As of this writing according to 9News, Colorado have 8,280 cases of COVID-19 with 357 people died of the disease and no recoveries. Nationwide, there are now more than 677,000 cases with more than 34,000 deaths and 56,000 recoveries according to statistics released on Google.
Some of the concerts in Red Rocks Amphitheater that were cancelled or rescheduled are from Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa, Lotus, Ice Cube, Manila Killa and others.
In Mission Ballroom, the cancelled events were from Youngboy Never Broke Again, Gary Allan, Alice Cooper and Tesla and others. Rescheduled events were from Thom Yorke and Beth Hart.
Rock band Napalm Death's concert at the Gothic Theater were also cancelled. Some concerts that are scheduled in May and June were also cancelled or postponed.
