University Programs Council's concert in University Hall was postponed indefinitely after headliners Outkast canceled the event last night.
The hip-hop duo informed PK German Chairman Jbeau Lewis by phone Friday that they were unable to make the concert. The group currently is in Los Angeles where it is recording a new album.
Outkast was delayed in Los Angeles after a producer scheduled to work with the group arrived a week late. Sunday's concert was not the only one to be postponed. Outkast also canceled a Saturday night show at the University of West Virginia.
"We are disappointed and apologize to students, but our hands are tied here," Lewis said.
PK German, the University Programs Council committee that coordinates concerts for the University, will decide whether to reschedule the event or to cancel it after speaking with Outkast's managers this week when business offices open.
"It is a hassle for us either way," Lewis said. "If we cancel we have to refund everyone who bought a ticket, but if we reschedule we have to go through the time and expense of doing all the organizing and promoting again."
"Ideally we'd like to put on the show for everyone," he said.
Around 3,000 tickets had been sold, out of 6,000 available. Average concerts at U-Hall usually draw an attendance of 3,500.
"Ticket sales were typical, but with a big-name group like Outkast we wanted to do better than typical," said UPC Executive Coordinator Rebecca Franklin. "It could indicate that people are not as interested as we thought" in the performance.
Lewis also speculated that the date and timing of the concert were factors that may have hindered ticket sales for the event.
"Because of Family Weekend we were forced to schedule the concert for a Sunday night instead of a Friday or Saturday," Lewis said. "If the concert is rescheduled, depending on the date, we could get better ticket sales."
Negotiations between PK German and Outkast this week also could lead to lower fees for UPC because the duo was forced to reschedule.
"We'd like to be able to arrange a better deal for everyone involved," Lewis said.
Despite the lackluster ticket sales, Lewis said he expected the concert to be one of U-Hall's largest shows since Phish played there in 1995.
In the past, walk-up ticket sales have increased attendance dramatically for concert events at the University.
Though PK German does not release expense amounts, Outkast was one of the most expensive acts it has signed recently.
"It is hard to do concerts with big popular bands because we lose money," Franklin said. To have the concerts "we need student support."
Franklin acknowledged that low ticket sales could lead to fewer big-name groups agreeing to play at the University in the future.
Without a guarantee that there will be large crowds, some bands may refuse to play.
"Whether we have 3,000 or 6,000 [in attendance], we want to put on a good show for those who come, and I think Outkast would have been a hot show for those who went," Lewis said. "We are disappointed about the postponement, though it does give us the opportunity to reschedule for a more lucrative date"
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