Atif Aslam performed at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, west London, kicking off his tour to Britain. But it wasn’t smooth sailing for the fans.
Rumor has it that many fans didn’t get what they paid for. What’s the real story?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9KC7DdlpWD/
According to The News, the Pakistani popstar’s London concert was far from satisfactory.
Things started off with excitement in the air as expected. The Tu Janay Na singer was excited about kicking off his Britain tour.
https://twitter.com/rimistar1/status/1234287168270499840
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9KniBEFnTG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The 12 Bajey singer performed his hit tracks like Wohi Khuda Hai, Tu Jaane Na, Tera Hona Laga Hoon, and many Coke Studio reworks.
https://twitter.com/durfiteymun/status/1233896644204277760
Taj daar’e haram ☺️😇
An #experience as always ☺️#atifaslam pic.twitter.com/GNHZBD234J
— Rabee’a Abrar ربیعہ (@rubiaabrar) February 29, 2020
Atif Aslam live in London pic.twitter.com/Y2Oe9C44Ny
— Sharafat ali (@ChsharafatAli) March 1, 2020
Watching this guy live is just something else!!!!!!!! 💚💚💚💚💚 #atifaslam #atifaslamlondon In LOVE with @itsaadee all over again 🥰🥰 pic.twitter.com/h6x4H6tzSH
— Saniya (@Saniya_A) March 1, 2020
Instrumental piece with amazing dholl 🥁#AtifAslam #Apollo pic.twitter.com/qf97mLYgfI
— Yasar Choudhary 💙 (@YasChoudhary1) March 1, 2020
Atif Aslam signed off with an extended version of his first Jal song ‘Aadat’.
https://twitter.com/shareacokewimme/status/1234333080606924801
Yet as per local media reports, some fans waited in line for 3 hours to get into the venue by 8 pm. While at least 1000 fans were left outside when the venue management wouldn’t let more people in.
“1,000 fans of Atif waited for about three hours outside the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, west London. Fans started queuing from 6:30 PM for the gate to open at 7:00 PM but at least 1,000 of them were unable to get in time for the concert.”
According to the news outlet, the venue management told these people that their ‘tickets could not be scanned on the machine for entry‘ so they would not be let in. After waiting 90 minutes, fans clashed with security.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9K5EySheUi/
Neither security nor the venue management was giving any answers. Even the people inside had to stand till the end of the concert at 11 pm because there were people sitting in their seats.
These ‘horror stories’ have been plastered on social media.
https://twitter.com/notyourmehrum/status/1234238704622931969
Queues outside for Atif aslam’s show because the management is shit! #atifaslam #London #cold pic.twitter.com/b71YBSwBJt
— Anum Fatima (@Anumchaudhary) February 29, 2020
Who is responsible for this fiasco?
Atif Aslam’s Britain Tour has concerts lined-up in Rotterdam, Birmingham, London, and Manchester. It was organized by the Holland-based BrightBeat.
Meanwhile, BrightBeat blames the Eventim Appollo staff for the mismanagement. BrightBeat’s Shejahat Khan blamed both Eventbrite and Eventim Appollo for the mismanagement.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B83-TT_l_pl/
According to Shejahat Khan, 780 tickets-holders were not allowed into the venue on time by Eventbrite. It had been Eventbrite who sold the concert tickets according to its contract with BrightBeat.
“Throughout, my management team tried to resolve the issue. We had to print nearly 800 tickets at the last minute and the scanning machines didn’t accept these tickets. We had to set up a new system to get people in. I accept that there were failures.”
According to Shejahat Khan, BrightBeat still won’t reimburse those who didn’t get to see the concert.
“We may probably offer free tickets to fans in future”.
