Full refund for Tiësto's Abu Dhabi fiasco

Clubbers who were hit by a last-minute cancellation of Friday’s Tiësto Kaleidoscope gig will get a full refund, organisers said in a media statement.

Barely hours ahead of the 10pm start of the top DJ’s Abu Dhabi gig, organisers Flash Entertainment sent out a statement that the show had been cancelled following communication that irreparable technical problems at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre venue meant the show could not proceed as planned.

“At 6pm Friday October 1, Adnec informed Flash that Abu Dhabi Hall (Hall 12) is unfit to stage Tiësto Live in Abu Dhabi due to a serious technical problem with the venue,” the statement said, adding that Adnec was unable to remedy the problems.

No details on the exact nature of the trouble were forthcoming.

"We are very sorry that this technical problem has occurred and lead to the cancellation of this event. We will be carrying out a thorough investigation into the causes of this problem to ensure it does not happen again,” said Mike Tracey, Venue Director, Adnec.

"This is desperately unfortunate as we know how many people were looking forward to this event. We will be doing everything we can to re-stage the event and further information will be available as soon as we have it,” Flash Managing Director John Lickrish said.

“Tiësto is here in Abu Dhabi and was ready to play and we're now working with him on potential new dates," he added. "We are discussing all options on alternative dates and an announcement will be made shortly."

He said Adnec was conducting its own investigation into the causes of the technical problem to ensure the situation did not arise again.

The top DJ also indicated his disappointment, posting a statement for fans on his Twitter webpage: “I am really disappointed that the gig tonight has been cancelled.I was looking forward to play in this sold out venue..I'll come back soon!”

Ticket holders have been requested to contact the outlets were they were purchased for a full refund. However, Flash said all reimbursement claims must be made by the end of October 31.

Refunds for those who bought tickets online will be automatically credited back to the card used for the original purchase, while buyers who went to a Virgin Megastore must take their tickets back to any Virgin outlet. Anyone who bought through Flash must email tiestoevent@thinkflash.ae.

Lickrish said all ticketholders were still eligible to receive a 40 per cent discount on Dh250 Creamfields Abu Dhabi 2010 tickets, provided they buy tickets between October 6 and 13. Online ticket holders will be sent an automatic email link from the retailer through which they can claim their discount, while those holding physical tickets must present them at a Virgin store.

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