According to a report by Rolling Stone, two individuals have initiated a class action lawsuit against the organizers of Electric Zoo 2023.
The festival experienced significant disruptions, starting with the cancellation of its opening day on Randall’s Island due to global supply chain issues. Furthermore, the festival’s third and final day faced capacity concerns, leading to an announcement by organizers that they would deny entry to the festival grounds. This decision triggered a wave of videos on social media depicting ticket-holders attempting to breach the festival’s gates.
In 2022, Electric Zoo was acquired by the investment group affiliated with the popular Brooklyn venue, Avant Gardner, in a transaction valued at $15 million. In the aftermath of this year’s festival, the New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed that the consortium had oversold passes by approximately 7,000. Among the affected pass-holders were Nicole Brockmole and Lauren Bair, who reportedly filed the lawsuit in a New York district court. They seek damages on behalf of all patrons who had purchased tickets for access to Electric Zoo but were denied entry, citing “deceptive acts” in their complaint.
The lawsuit further highlights the festival’s issues, including the cancellation of Friday’s events and the distressing conditions faced by attendees on Sunday, as they endured lengthy lines in a heatwave and were ultimately denied entry due to overselling and overcrowding at the venue, as reported by Rolling Stone.
According to the NYPD, an estimated 88,000 people attended Electric Zoo in 2023. The organizers have announced their intention to provide full refunds to Friday ticket holders and those who were denied entry on Sunday.
