Garth Brooks Cancels Kansas City Matinee Due to Ticketing Issues
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Country music star Garth Brooks has announced the cancellation of a recently scheduled concert in Kansas City, following frustrations over online ticket sales that were reportedly hijacked by automated “bots.” This decision comes as a part of his ongoing Blame It All on My Roots Tour, which has been marred by a growing ticketing crisis this season.
The cancellation was confirmed shortly after Brooks had included the Kansas City matinee show as the third addition to his tour stop at the T-Mobile Center, which is set for November. The original announcement regarding the special matinee performance was made via social media on October 21, with Brooks expressing excitement for yet another opportunity to perform in the city. Unfortunately for fans, the concert’s ticket sales took a turn for the worse just days later.
On October 23, when tickets were set to go on sale, an overwhelming number of individuals—reportedly more than 90,000—flooded the queue, most of them identified as bots. According to a statement on Brooks’ official website, these automated agents monopolised ticket purchases, making it exceedingly difficult for genuine fans to secure seats. The website stated, “The bots flooded the on-sale, holding tickets throughout the floor and lower bowl, creating a scenario that limited access to floor or lower bowl tickets.”
In response to this overwhelming bot activity, both the T-Mobile Center and ticketing partner AXS took swift action by shutting down sales. This led to the cancellation of the matinee performance, inciting disappointment among Brooks’ fanbase.
In a heartfelt statement shared on Facebook, Brooks expressed his remorse for the situation, emphasising that the increase in bot activity had been escalating throughout the tour. “The bot situation is out of hand. It’s been progressively getting worse on this tour,” he wrote. Brooks acknowledged concern for those fans who had managed to purchase tickets before the sales were halted, promising to personally investigate possible solutions. He assured them, “You have my word that all that can be done will be done.”
For fans who did secure tickets prior to the cancellation, refunds will be processed automatically to the original payment method used for the purchase. Despite the challenges faced in Kansas City, Brooks confirmed that the two previously scheduled evening performances will still proceed on the original dates of November 6 and 7.
Brooks’ intention to add the matinee show was driven by both social media feedback and past experiences with Kansas City ticket sales. He stated, “Because of social media posts and our history with Kansas City, I felt we left people unable to get tickets on the original on-sale.” His decision aimed to provide additional opportunities for fans to attend the event.
On a brighter note for his supporters, ticket sales for Brooks’ upcoming performances in Seattle on the same tour went off without a hitch. The three shows scheduled in Washington are all sold out, prompting Brooks to extend his stay in the city with an additional opening night. He is set to perform four evening shows in Seattle between November 12 and 15, demonstrating his continued popularity and appeal.
As the Blame It All on My Roots Tour proceeds, it remains to be seen what further developments will unfold regarding ticket sales and the ongoing challenges with automated bot interference. For now, both Brooks and his fans are eager to look ahead to the scheduled concerts, hoping for smooth sailing in the coming weeks.