Eric Church owes his San Antonio fans a lot more than a refund for his canceled concert
Tonight! 8 pm at the AT&T Center, in San Antonio, Texas. Country music star Eric Church WAS scheduled to play a concert for more than eighteen thousand of his fans. The reason was is in capital letters is because earlier this week Church canceled this show.
Concert cancellations are nothing new. We've seen plenty of them in the last couple of years because of Covid. But this has nothing to do with anyone being ill. Church is unavailable to perform because he'll be attending the North Carolina-Duke basketball game in New Orleans.
Church grew up in North Carolina. He's a huge Tar Heel hoops fan. When canceling the show, he said this is a once-in-a-lifetime event. It's an opportunity to do something with his family that will give them a lifetime memory.
I get this, The two intra-state rivals have never played each other in the NCAA tournament, much less in the national semi-final game. You add in the possibility that could be legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's final game and no doubt this is a special once-in-a-lifetime event.
But what about Eric Church's fans who had tickets for his concert? Wasn't this a once-in-a-lifetime event for some of them? Their lifetime memories were ripped away from them before they had a chance to be made.
I know that all purchased tickets will be refunded. But what about his fans who were coming from outside the San Antonio area. Many of them bought plane tickets and booked hotel rooms. They're out money because Church put a basketball game ahead of his fans.
Life on the road for a musician isn't easy. Church's "Gather Again Tour" started last July and will continue through August. That's a lot of time spent away from loved ones; not to mention the responsibilities to the crew required to put on a concert and a year-long tour. You have to fit in precious family time whenever you can. I just don't think canceling a concert for a basketball game is that time.
So how does Eric Church make it up to the San Antonio concert-goers he'll disappoint? Yesterday, he announced that he'll be doing a free show in September at a venue in New Braunfels, about a half-hour from San Antonio. Hopefully, there's a way to assure that many of the same people who missed out on tonight's show get to see the make-up gig.
That sounds like a good start. Why not double down with a follow-up charity show? I'm sure there are plenty of San Antonio hospitals, homeless organizations and food pantries that could use some help.
That's a lot of make-goods because of a basketball game. I hope all of this and the loss of goodwill from your fans is worth it. Enjoy the game.
Go Duke!!
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