Country music star Garth Brooks has canceled an additional Kansas City concert after ticket-buying bots overwhelmed the sales queue, leaving fans struggling to secure seats.
The 64-year-old singer had announced a special matinee performance for November 7 as part of his Blame It All on My Roots Tour. However, the newly added show was scrapped after the ticket sale was disrupted by what Brooks described as an increasingly serious bot problem.
More than 90,000 people entered the ticket queue
Brooks first revealed plans for the extra performance on social media on October 21, asking fans, “KC, HOW ABOUT ONE MORE?!”
Tickets went on sale on Friday, October 23. According to a notice published on Brooks’ official website, more than 90,000 people entered the queue that morning, with the majority reportedly being bots.
The automated activity allegedly blocked tickets across the floor and lower bowl sections, limiting genuine fans’ access to some of the most desirable seats.
The situation eventually became serious enough for T-Mobile Center and ticketing company AXS to halt the sale. The additional Kansas City matinee was subsequently canceled.
Brooks apologizes and promises to investigate
Brooks addressed the ticketing fiasco in a statement shared on Facebook on October 23, acknowledging that the problem had become increasingly difficult to manage throughout the tour.
“The bot situation is out of hand. It’s been progressively getting worse on this tour,” the country star wrote.
He also expressed concern for fans who had successfully purchased tickets before the sale collapsed, promising to personally investigate possible solutions.
“You have my word that all that can be done will be done,” Brooks said. “You have my deepest apologies for the results and my most sincere appreciation for your efforts today.”
According to his website, fans who purchased tickets for the canceled matinee will automatically receive refunds to their original payment methods.
Why Brooks added the extra show in the first place
The additional performance was Brooks’ own idea. He explained that social media responses and the singer’s history with Kansas City had led him to believe some fans were unable to obtain tickets during the original sale.
“I was the one who suggested we put a lower bowl Saturday matinee up for sale,” he said in a statement.
Despite the cancellation, Brooks will still perform his two previously scheduled Kansas City concerts at T-Mobile Center on the evenings of Friday, November 6, and Saturday, November 7.
Seattle ticket sales bring better news
While the Kansas City sale ended in disappointment, Brooks’ ticket sales for Seattle proceeded much more smoothly on October 23. Fans quickly sold out all three originally announced performances, prompting the singer to extend his run and add an opening-night show.
Brooks now has four evening concerts scheduled in the Washington city, running from Thursday, November 12, through Sunday, November 15.
Although the Kansas City cancellation has disrupted plans for some fans, Brooks has pledged to look into the issue as he continues his tour.
Source: Compiled from various sources
