The Guns N'Roses
Debacle In Costa
Rica Still A
Mystery
What really
happened with
the Guns N'Roses
concert in Costa
Rica? That is
perhaps the
single most
question on
everyone's mind,
save the
thousands of
fans who were
disappointed not
to see their
band play, and
worse out of
pocket and
without any
assurances that
they will get
their money back
for the
cancelled show.
Also a big loser
in this is 28
Producciones,
which saw its
windfall fade
away and the
people of
Alajuela who
were going to
benefit from the
˘50 million
colones in
municipal taxes
and fees that
could have been
used for social
programs,
according to
Alajuela's
mayor, Joyce
Zurcher.
Related
Story:
Guns N'Roses
Guatemala Date
Cancelled
The concert
programmed
originally for
Friday, April 9,
at the Ricardo
Saprissa stadium
was cancelled
only hours
before the 8pm
start. 28
Producciones
announced early
Friday afternoon
that problems
with the stage
forced the show
to be cancelled,
promising fans
the show would
take place the
following day or
at the latest on
Tuesday in
Alajuela.
There are
conflicting
reports as to
why the Friday
show was
cancelled.
At first it was
said that the
heavy rains of
the preceding
days and strong
winds caused the
stage problems.
Another report
indicated that
the stage
buckled under
the weight of
the giant
television
screen used by
the band.
However, on
Monday night,
Juan Carlos
Campos, director
of 28
Producciones, on
the Telenoticias
news show said
the cancellation
was due to a
"technical
disagreement
with the
producer of the
band".
This was the
first time
Campos referred
to any
disagreement
between the
promoter and the
band's
production. All
day Monday
Campos has kept
silent, only
telling news
reporters that
he would not be
making comments
on the advice of
lawyers.
To save the
show, Campos has
said late Friday
that is the show
could not be
reprogrammed at
the Saprissa for
Saturday, it
would be held at
the Liga
Deportiva
Alajuelense
stadium in
Alajuela on
Tuesday.
This kept the
hopes of the
band's
appearance in
Costa Rica,
although it was
well known that
Axl Rose, the
leader of the
band, had left
Costa Rica
Saturday.
Come Sunday, 28
Producciones
said the show
would be at the
Autodromo La
Guacima, also in
Alajuela, after
the Liga
Deportiva
Alajuelense
stadium rejected
a proposal, and
that
construction of
the stage was
underway.
28 Producciones
had entered into
an agreement
with Promotor to
hold the show on
Tuesday, April
13, even though
the band was
firmly booked
for an
appearance in
Guatemala.
On Monday, mayor
Zurcher assured
that Alajuela
would do
everything
possible to get
the promoter
permits as long
as all
requirements
were met.
But, as the day
wore on, the
likelyhood of a
show began to
fade.
The early
morning post on
the bands
Facebook page
www.facebook.com/gunsnroses,
Axl Rose wrote
that the concert
had been
reprogrammed for
Tuesday night.
However, later
on in the day,
Axl, by way of
Facebook, made
the shattering
announcement
"The previously
announced
rescheduled show
in Costa Rica at
La Guácima will
unfortunately
not happen".
Hundreds of
irate fans began
venting their
frustrations on
Facebook.
The show was
definitely off.
Construction on
the stage
stopped. And
Campos turned
off or at least
did not answer
his phone.
Everyone loses.
The promoter.
The
municipality.
But, most of all
the fans. And
all without
really anyone
knowing what
happened, for
those in the
know, just
aren't talking,
leaving everyone
to speculate the
mystery
surrounding the
entire event.
Many consider
the entire
fiasco a "verguenza"
(shame) for
Costa Rica, the
only country
where the band
could not put on
a show and for
the, well, we
don't know.
As to any
refund, Campos
explained on
national
television that
the announcement
would be made on
Thursday, April
15, as to when
and where people
can claim their
refund. |
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