The highly anticipated concert by Canadian rock icon Bryan Adams at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, faced an unexpected disruption on Sunday night, February 9. The event was abruptly canceled due to a massive fatberg?a large accumulation of fat, grease, and rags?that caused a significant blockage in the city?s sewer system, leading to serious safety concerns for attendees.
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This unforeseen incident resulted in a dangerous water overflow situation near the venue, which posed significant risks to the safety of concertgoers. Local authorities deemed the area unsafe for entry, thereby necessitating the swift cancellation of the performance to protect attendees.
Fans eagerly awaiting the show found themselves stranded outside the venue for hours, waiting for updates on the situation. Initially, the postponement was attributed to a leak in the septic tanks. However, as the time for Adams to take the stage approached, officials announced the cancellation around 9 p.m., leaving fans disappointed and confused.
In a statement from Frontier Touring, it was explained that ?Last night?s concert could not proceed due to an external Perth Water Corporation issue, which was unable to be fixed in time. The problem affected all of Wellington Street, leading to safety concerns for patrons trying to enter the RAC Arena.? They assured ticket holders that refunds would be processed automatically to the original payment method, simplifying the process for affected fans.
Frontier Touring further advised ticket holders to anticipate a delay of approximately 30 business days for refunds to appear in their accounts, urging fans not to contact Ticketek regarding their refunds as the process would be handled without additional action required from them.
The cancellation of the show was met with disappointment, with representatives expressing gratitude for fans’ understanding, emphasizing that every effort was made for the performance to go ahead. They reiterated that the situation was beyond the control of Bryan Adams, Frontier Touring, and the RAC Arena management.
The Water Corporation, responsible for managing Perth’s water and sewage systems, confirmed that the blockage was indeed due to a fatberg. CEO Pat Donovan elaborated on the situation during an interview with 6PR, explaining, ?I assure you that our team worked diligently to clear a large blockage, which is called a fatberg, in one of our key water mains located under Wellington Street.?
Donovan noted that although alternative solutions, such as transporting the wastewater away, were considered, officials ultimately concluded that they would be unable to manage the wastewater needs of the 16,000 attendees inside the arena without compromising safety.
Bryan Adams, currently in Australia for his So Happy It Hurts tour, is scheduled to continue with his performances in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne later this week, much to the anticipation of his fans.
Although Adams has not yet publicly commented on the unfortunate incident, the unexpected cancellation will likely be remembered as one of the most peculiar reasons for a concert postponement in recent history, adding an unusual chapter to his tour experience.
