Celine fans feel cheated
2008-02-26 12:23
Cape Town - Celine Dion fans were left fuming after the international diva's concert at Vergelegen turned into a nightmare because of poor organisation, but organisers have shifted the blame to "lack of traffic support".
News24 has been inundated with calls and emails from Users who were all bitterly disappointed by the chaos surrounding the diva's concert on Saturday night at the historic Vergelegen wine estate, near Somerset West.
"What could have been a fabulous concert turned into a nightmare," an angry fan told News24. "The half hour pleasure was definitely not worth the pain!"
"We had VIP tickets, but queued for hours in the hot sun, after being stuck in the traffic for hours, and in the end, we couldn't even see Celine Dion on stage.
"I feel cheated, and feel that we should be refunded," the fan, who wanted to remain anonymous, said.
Stampede
Many fans, who had bought their expensive tickets months ago, were either late for the concert, or missed the concert, completely because of traffic problems and long queues.
Another News24 user, Liezl, expressed her horror at the stampede at the gates, when they were opened only an hour before the start of the concert. "People started pushing, people were being crushed into one another, some poor woman even had the skin torn off the back off her heels," she said. "It was horrible."
The organisers Kusasa Entertainment have been blamed for "total lack of police control, no parking marshals, no visible marshals on the grounds, no medical facilities, totally inadequate food outlets, zero security," and "poor sound quality".
Kusasa Entertainment responded with a general media statement blaming the chaos on "lack of traffic support" as well as "a tragic accident" that happened on the evening of the concert and that "exacerbated the flow of traffic to the event".
'Poor organisasion'
However, the Cape Town Traffic Department has denied these allegations.
"The chaos was a result of poor planning by the organisers of the event," Mr Searle Johannes, the Cape Town Traffic Department's media spokesperson told News24.
"We have had several meetings with Kusasa and all the other parties involved in preparation for the shows and presented a suitable traffic management plan which had been approved by Kusasa.
"Our staff have done their job well, but the problems were caused by gates that were opened too late at the venue, not enough parking, and confusion over where ticket holders were supposed to be seated etc."
According to Johannes Kusasa's claims of a tragic accident are also untrue.
"I can assure you that there was no accident. Claims were made that two people had died because of a collision near Lord Charles and that it backed up traffic, but that is totally untrue. The only accident that had been reported was a minor fender bender which did not obstruct the traffic," he added.
Kusasa continued to say in their media statement that an emergency meeting was held on Sunday morning to address the problems at Saturday's concert.
Traffic flow analysis
"A detailed traffic flow analysis with additional traffic support was instituted for the Sunday evening concert, which undoubtedly led to smooth flowing traffic and access to the venue for Celine's second performance. In addition to traffic, security and access control personnel were increased at all access points to facilitate patrons to their seats and gates also opened earlier for Celine's excited fans," it says.
However, Mr Johannes told News24 that the exact same traffic management plan was implemented on Sunday night.
"We definitely did not employ extra traffic officers. We implemented the exact same traffic plan on both nights, but on Sunday it worked out perfectly, because the organisers had opened up the gates much earlier and increased security and access control personnel."
According to Johannes, the organisers were simply not skilled to organise such a huge event. "They have learned from their mistakes on Saturday night and improved on it for Sunday night," he said.
Ticket refunds
Fans who complained to the ticketing agent Ticket Connection, have received the same Kusasa media statement as explanation, with a promise to refund tickets to those people who were unable to attend the concert "due to the lack of traffic support".
"On instruction from the organisers, all patrons who were not able to attend
the concert at all on Saturday night due to the lack of traffic support will be refunded," says an email from Ticket Connection, that has been forwarded to News24 by a News24 User, Sarah from Cape Town.
"I find the organisers' explanation totally unacceptable; this is the first that one has heard of any tragic accident," she told News24.
"Further more, there were so many indications of poor organisation that I find this preposterous that they are blaming a one off incident," she said.
She also finds it unacceptable that only people who did not make it in time for the concert, will be refunded, echoing the sentiments of many unhappy fans.
"Why should I pay R1300 for half an hour's concert? This concert equals poor organisation, I paid R1300+ for a half hour concert," she fumed.
Not the first time
Kusasa Entertainment failed to respond to any of News24's queries.
This is not the first time Celine Dion fans have complained about the organisers' poor organisation. The singer's opening concert on Valentine's Day in Johannesburg was spoiled for many fans when their tickets had been reallocated to another date and venue at short notice.
Celine Dion will complete the South African leg of her Taking Chances world tour with concerts in Port Elizabeth on 27 February and Johannesburg on 29 February and 1 March.
Enquiries or feedback on the Celine Dion concerts can be addressed to celine@ticketconnection.co.za.