TOLEDO, Ohio — Two summer concerts scheduled for this weekend at the Promenade Pavilion in Toledo have been canceled, which has city council member Cerssandra McPherson concerned.
"It puts me in an uncomfortable position because then citizens reach out to their council persons," the at-large member said. "They that purchase tickets are probably disappointed, but if it continues to happen then it's a bad look for the city. Not just the promoter, but the city."
The events are part of a concert series sponsored by HB Concerts. The company planned to put together a total of 10 summer concerts at the park, but the cancellations have trimmed that list down to eight.
McPherson said the cancellations not only affect relationships with hopeful concertgoers, but potential acts for the future, too.
"Contracting artists for other events to come to the city of Toledo and they hear about these cancellations and things, it's not a good precedent to have," said McPherson.
Hunter Brucks, CEO of HB Concerts, said in a statement that the Friday concert featuring Palomazo Norteño was canceled because the artist's promoter "decided to go in a different direction with the tour."
Brucks said the second cancelation was "solely on a tough decision due to the band performing just 30 miles north of Toledo in recent days."
The full statement is below:
"The concert series at Promenade Pavilion has been exciting, challenging and most definitely high energy!
We are finding that Toledoans love their music, and beer sales have been through the roof!
We have been receiving comments on how they love the optics, production and the stadium-style seating.
Always a few bugs to work through and I think we have a good handle on that.
With our lineup and the City Festivals taking place, we will have been involved with over eight shows this summer,
Always unfortunate to deal with cancellations but in this case the promoter for Palomazo on Friday, Aug 9, decided to go in a different direction with the tour. We hope to revisit them in 2025.
This Sunday's cancellation came solely on a tough decision due to the band performing just 30 miles north of Toledo in recent days.
All tickets will be reimbursed, ASAP.
We look forward to seeing everyone at TLC Aug. 22!"
Although the city did not have to pay for the concert series, McPherson hopes these cancellations aren't going to cause continuing problems.
"It's always been my concern that if he does not make the money that he intended to or produce through these shows, is he going to then come back on the city?" she said.
She hopes this is something that will not happen for the rest of the concerts, too.
"Hopefully he can recoup and get on the right track and complete the summer series/ If not, it's not going to be good, but we'll get through it because the city of Toledo is a city of endless possibilities."
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