Watch the video above: Country fans left with tickets but no place to stay. Carey Marsden reports.
TORONTO – Angry country music fans are scrambling to find camping space for Bowmanville’s Boots and Hearts Music Festival after on-site passes were unavailable even though many bought tickets in advance to attend the event.
“Me, my wife and two of our friends bought 4 day passes last August and now there’s no room to camp?? I don’t quite understand,” commented Ryan Knapp on the festival’s Facebook page.
Organizers say general admissions and on-site camping passes for the four day event “were only made available to ticket holders for purchase and only one campsite could be purchased at a time so everyone would have an equal opportunity.”
But some music fans who bought tickets claim they weren’t able to land a coveted camping spot for the duration of the event.
“Have had 4 full event tickets since last year and beyond excited to take my teenage daughter to this event only to find out that we couldn’t get camping!” wrote Debbie Donohoe Gerow. “Now left with having to ‘cram’ onto a friends RV site, paid for 3 days parking only to find out that it is only good until 3 a.m.”
“Think there should be full refunds for all tickets purchased if you did not receive a campsite,” commented Wendy Barrick Scottu.
The event, scheduled for July 31 to August 4, is touted as the largest country music festival of its kind to be hosted in Canada and the lineup of acts this year include stars Blake Shelton, Toby Keith, and Paul Brandt.
Organizers released a statement March 24 on its Facebook page saying they are investigating the situation and warned people to watch out for fraudulent tickets being sold online.
“Although there is sufficient camping space for every ticket holder to stay on the grounds, it has become clear from the feedback from our fans that many groups, both larger and smaller than the 8 person maximum capacity, were unable to purchase the sites they required,” the statement read.
Earlier this week, Durham Regional Police released a description of a man connected to a fraud investigation relating to a ticket scam at the music festival.
It is alleged the victims never received the promised tickets after forwarding the money to the seller.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Giancarlo Iandoli, 24, of no fixed address for two counts of fraud under $5,000 and two counts of personation.
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