Petition organizers claim attendees were stranded for hours under harsh conditions with little information
A fast-growing petition calling on Live Nation to issue full refunds after this year’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, which left thousands of attendees disappointed and stranded, is gaining steam at Change.org.
The petition, started by Kaitlyn Ziegler, has been signed by over 4,000 people so far. Festival-goers describe conditions that fell far short of expectations: delayed performances, major act cancellations, long wait times, and inadequate sanitation facilities, many exacerbated by extreme weather and poor communication from organizers. Some attendees reported being left in unsafe conditions for hours with little support or information.
Day one on Thursday was held, featuring Luke Combs, Marcus King, Insane Clown Posse, and others performing their full sets. Days two through four were canceled on Friday, June 13th, after severe weather and flooding impacted festival grounds in Manchester, Tennessee, an hour south of Nashville.
In its cancellation statement, Live Nation confirmed full refunds and parking tickets for single-day admission from June 13-15 would be refunded. Those with four-day admission and camping passes will receive a 75% refund. All refunds will be automatically issued to their original payment form and may take up to 30 days.
Ziegler calls this year’s event “nothing short of disappointing for thousands of attendees. These issues rendered the festival experience exhausting and unrewarding, contrary to what was promised when tickets were purchased. Many spent their hard-earned money on tickets, travel, and accommodation, expecting outstanding performances and facilities. Instead, they encountered long waiting lines, inadequate sanitation facilities, and the cancellation of major acts. Such discrepancies between the promised experience and reality merit a full refund to restore faith in Live Nation’s commitment to its patrons.”
She continues, “Several attendees report being stranded for hours under harsh conditions, which were poorly managed by the event’s organizers. Furthermore, the information provided on delays and cancellations was often confusing, if not misleading. Pictures and testimony from attendees tell a grim tale of mismanagement and unmet promises. According to reports, Live Nation’s revenue in 2022 was over $16 billion, showcasing their financial capability to honor refund requests without jeopardizing their business stability. This petition calls upon Live Nation to do right by its customers and offer a 100% refund to those who had their Bonnaroo experience sullied by the festival’s shortcomings. Festival-goers deserve to have a seamless experience and must not bear the cost of the organization’s failures. Sign this petition to urge Live Nation to uphold its responsibility and provide complete refunds to affected ticket holders. Let us hold them accountable for their service and demand the level of quality promised to consumers.”
Tyler, the Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, Hozier, Vampire Weekend, Queens of the Stone Age, and others were scheduled to perform during the remaining days that were ultimately canceled.
Live Nation has yet to publicly respond to the petition.
