Some refunds still available on cancelled shows
With a lengthy show bill at both the Esplanade and Co-op Place this autumn, rescheduled from two years of pandemic uncertainty, the box offices are still seeking a few customers who may be owed refunds from shows cancelled in early 2020.
Trampas Brown, the entertainment and operations manager at the city-run facilities, said there is an array of entertainment options coming in the next few months — including acts getting back on the road — but a few loose ends still to tie up from the pandemic.
This week the News was contacted by a Bow Island resident who was still out of pocket for two tickets to George Thorogood and the Destroyers.
The gear-jamming classic rocker and his band were set to play the Co-op Place on April 24, 2020, about one month after major events were cancelled across the province by health order and the pandemic set in.
Shortly after that, the city took over operation of the arena and concert venue, ending a contract with an operations provider which used its own ticketing format.
“Anyone who bought tickets with Ticketmaster with a credit card got a refund immediately no questions on to their credit card,” said Brown, noting the city’s ticketing system, Tixx.ca, is a separate entity.
“People who paid cash right at the box office might have fallen through the cracks, but we’ve tried to get in touch with as many as we could.
“There could still be one or two outliers, and we’d like to hear from them so we can connect them with who we’ve been working with at Ticketmaster (to obtain refunds).”
Brown said it’s difficult to say exactly how many shows were cancelled over the course of 2020 and 2021, or determine how many refunds were given. A large number of shows were still being contracted during early 2020, and were not yet announced or open to ticket sales.
“That’s one of the reasons why there are so many shows coming up, because those are being rescheduled,” Brown said.
Currently more than 30 acts are booked to play the Esplanade Theatre this autumn, including comedy, live music, dance, tribute shows and theatre.
“There really is something for everyone.” Co-op Place will host PBR bull-riding and a headline country show in November featuring Sawyer Brown and Lonestar with guest George Canyon and Doc Walker.