This week on June 18, 2024, Electric Zoo issued a long-awaited statement regarding the issues that transpired in September 2023. The festival’s exclusive ticketing provider, See Tickets, will process refunds by July 19, 2024. Ticket holders eligible for refunds include:
- Friday, September 1, 2023, single or multi-day ticket holders that have not filed a dispute/chargeback, nor previously received a face-value refund (100% for Friday single day ticket holders, 50% for two-day ticket holders, and 33% for three-day ticket holders).
- Sunday, September 3, 2023, single or multi-day admission ticket holders who were unable to access the event (as determined by entry scan data), and have not filed a dispute/chargeback, nor previously received a face-value refund (100% for Sunday single day ticket holders; 50% for two-day ticket holders and 33% for three-day ticket holders).
It’s no secret that Randall’s Island Park became a nightmare for festivalgoers last year. Electric Zoo organizers were forced to cancel the first day due to cited supply chain issues that hindered the construction of the main stage. To add to the chaos, they delayed doors on Day 2 and hit capacity early on Day 3, preventing more ticketholders from entering the festival. On Sunday, frustrated attendees stormed the gates. One video by an attendee shows the crowd pushing and shoving their way through metal detectors. According to NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell, roughly 88,000 people attended EZoo, overselling the festival by thousands of tickets.
Avant Gardner, the organizers of Electric Zoo and renowned for their Brooklyn Mirage venue, acquired the festival in 2022 for a reported $15 million. Despite the incident, they expressed remorse and a commitment to improving. In its recent announcement, Avant Gardner wrote, “When we set out to bring you Electric Zoo 2023, our goal was to create a completely leveled-up experience that included new stage concepts, enhanced production, and so much more.” Responses to the announcement remain mixed — Artist 3LAU commented, “It’s been 9 months since the festival, this is absurd. Def never playing again if it even survives (doubtful).”
Amid the September 5, 2023 chaos, New York Mayor Eric Adams stated in an NYPD briefing, “It’s unfortunate organizers wanted to turn our city into a zoo, and we were not going to allow that to happen. We will be dealing with them in the next few days based on their behavior and actions.” The disastrous outcome prompted several class action lawsuits demanding retribution. Attendees seek compensation for the logistical failures and mismanagement that marred the event. As of now, there have yet to be any plans for a return in 2024, leaving the future of Electric Zoo uncertain and casting doubt on whether the festival can recover its reputation and regain the trust of its fans.
Read the full statement posted below:
Stay tuned for further developments on Electric Zoo’s future and other news in the EDM community.
