BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday October 28, 2013 – The eagerly anticipated and much publicised homecoming concert by Bajan superstar Rihanna has been postponed indefinitely.
Originally scheduled for Friday November 1 at Kensington Oval, the Barbados leg of Rihanna’s Diamonds World Tour is said to have run into a hitch with “technical difficulties associated with the transport of equipment.”
The postponement was announced on Friday by tour organisers Live Nation Global Touring who said that a new date was as yet unavailable, but indicated it would not be before next year.
They nevertheless assured that tickets already purchased for the aborted event will be valid for the rescheduled performance in 2014.
The show’s postponement will be a disappointment to fans who were looking forward to the promised “biggest concert production ever staged in the Caribbean.”
The massive production was expected to see 25 tons of stage equipment being pressed into service by a 60-member crew to produce a spectacular comprising a six-storey backdrop and speaker system; 350 moving lights along with an extensive lighting system; major pyrotechnics, including 10 flame dragon heads; seven lasers; a 60-foot catwalk extending into the audience; giant LED video screens and more.
Supporting acts were to have been award-winning American hip hop artists, A$ap Rocky and 2 Chainz.
The postponement of the concert is also predicted to be a blow to the tourism sector, which was expecting that the show would generate an increase in visitors during what is traditionally a slow period before the start of the winter tourist season. Reports had indicated that over 3,000 tickets had been purchased overseas, with a significant number of them being snapped up by Trinidadians.
The show would have been Rihanna’s second major performance in Barbados, following the highly successful staging of her Loud concert in 2011.
The wider Caribbean was nevertheless treated to the star quality of the Stay star, who performed at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in the Dominican Republic on Saturday. The show hits the road again on Tuesday for a performance at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico.
The full text of the published announcement follows:
“Unfortunately, due to the technical difficulties associated with the transport of equipment, The Rihanna Diamonds World Tour originally scheduled for next Friday, November 1st has been postponed it was announced Friday by Live Nation Global Touring.
The rescheduled date is unavailable at press time but tickets purchased for the November 1st event will be valid for the rescheduled performance next year.
Fans requiring a refund may do so as follows:
Fans who purchased in cash, may obtain a refund in person upon presentation of the original ticket beginning Wed. Oct. 30th through Saturday, November 1st between the hours of 10am to 6pm at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill Bridgetown.
Fans who ordered online at www.ticketmaster.com please call 1-800-745-3000 toll free number to have your ticket purchase cancelled.
Fans who purchased their tickets via credit card at the Welches Plaza Box Office may obtain their refund in person upon presentation of the original ticket at Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre or may mail their tickets to the Premier office at the address below.
Any fan may mail their ticket(s) to:
Premier Event Services Inc
Suite G3 Welches Plaza
Welches Rd, St Michael”