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When ZZ Top and High Valley concerts and Moose Jaw Warriors games were cancelled due to COVID-19, ticketholders were frustrated.
When they were told by ticket distributor Ticket Rocket that funds were to be refunded by Aug. 22 and that didn’t happen, ticketholders were frustrated further.
On Tuesday night, Moose Jaw city council discussed ways to “make this right” with ticketholders despite not having the cash to refund the money.
The city decided to give gift cards of equal value to use for any upcoming concerts or hockey games.
City manager Jim Puffalt said when the city and Ticket Rocket parted ways on May 29, the relationship between the two was rocky.
“The old agreement had that Ticket Rocket held the funds and then transferred the money to the city seven days after to settle,” Puffalt said.
“As we got growingly concerned, we asked for funding to come every Friday and that came for a while and we were able to get all the money from the Scotties in and some of the other money.”
The Downtown and Soccer/Fieldhouse Facilities Inc. (DFFH) entered into an agreement with Ticket Rocket in June of 2016 and that deal was inherited by the city when the DFFH was dissolved.
While the city believes it does not have any legal recourse to force Ticket Rocket to refund the money and the city doesn’t have any legal obligation, Mayor Fraser Tolmie said the city had a moral obligation to the ticketholders.
“We’re responsible for the reputation for this city in the future, for other concerts. We have to think about that. We want to encourage people back when they do come. Now, it may not be for a while,” Tolmie said.
Coun. Heather Eby added she has received calls from those looking for refunds who read the report and were still not satisfied. She said she understands gift cards aren’t going to please everyone, but the city is trying to make the best out of a bad situation.
Three Warriors games were cancelled in March and the two concerts were cancelled in May.
Council voted in favour 6-1 with Coun. Brian Swanson opposed. Swanson voiced his concerns about taxpayers having to foot the bill.
Those wanting a gift card must provide a proof of purchase of the tickets as well as sign a sworn affidavit that they have not received a refund from any other sources such as a credit card company.
Shawn Slaght, Discover Moose Jaw
