NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A concert on Randalls Island called the Governors Ball was canceled Sunday night after everybody was already there. Organizers are blaming bad weather, but some are calling it New York’s version of the notorious Fyre Festival.
To start, concertgoers who shelled out $200 each to see a packed lineup of bands like The Strokes waited for hours to get inside after gates that were supposed to open at noon didn’t open until 6:30 p.m.
But that was just the start of the nightmare.
Three hours into the festival, video screens started flashing warnings of impending bad weather and organizers urged people to calmly head to the exits.
Some concertgoers packed under an overpass, hiding from the downpour and lightning while chanting expletives. Thunder and lightning rolled through the city much of the night.
Many took to social media to voice their complaints. Some compared the Governors Ball to Fyre Festival, the failed 2017 music event that led to lawsuits.
"I came all the way from Chicago to see @thestrokes I want my f—ing money back," one Twitter user wrote.
Organizers later put out a statement, saying safety as a top priority and that even though it was rain or shine, the weather was too severe to continue.
Around midnight, word got out that refunds can be had at govball.com/sundayrefund.
Still, some lucky (and drenched) concertgoers got an impromptu performance by The Strokes in the subway.