Electric Zoo Organizers Hit With Lawsuit After Disastrous 2023 Fest – Rolling Stone

Following a disastrous 2023 Electric Zoo festival plagued by supply chain issues and capacity limits, a pair of attendees have launched a class action lawsuit against organizers over what they called “a nightmare endured by thousands of electronic music fans.”

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in a New York district court by plaintiffs Nicole Brockmole and Lauren Bair and obtained by Rolling Stone, seeks damages on “behalf of all affected patrons who paid for ticket(s) for access or entry to [Electric Zoo] were not granted access.”

As Rolling Stone previously reported, organizers canceled the first day of Electric Zoo just three hours before the fest was set to begin due to “global supply chain disruptions” that “prevented us from completing the construction of the main stage in time for Day 1.” Organizers promised refunds (or partial refunds, for weekend ticket holders) after Day 1 — featuring headlining sets by Kx5 (aka Deadmau5 and Kaskade), Galantis, and the Chainsmokers — was nixed.

However, despite the statement about the global supply chain, Page Six reported that it was instead organizers’ late start in preparing for the festival that was to blame for the cancellation, an article that is cited in the class action lawsuit; in 2022, the investment group that operates Brooklyn venues Avant Gardner and Brooklyn Mirage purchased the EDM fest for $15 million.

Saturday at Electric Zoo went down relatively incident-free aside from a late start, but issues again arose on Sunday when a reported 7,000 festival goers (most of whom were valid ticket holders) were unable to enter the Randall’s Island venue as it reached its capacity limit by midday.

“In addition to Friday’s cancellation, and perhaps more egregiously, things turned worse for Electric Zoo fans on Sunday when they were left to languish in heatwave for hours after being greeted by never ending lines to enter the festival and eventually denied entry because the venue was oversold and overcrowded,” the lawsuit states.

Brockmole, from North Carolina, and Bair, an Arizona resident, were among the thousands who traveled to New York for Electric Zoo, only to be greeted by the cancellation and denial at entry. As one attendee told Rolling Stone after Sunday’s debacle, “I’m never coming back. Worst experience of my life.”

In summarizing the case against organizers, the lawsuit states, “Defendants’ deceptive acts include representing or omitting that (1) Electric Zoo would take place as scheduled on Friday, September 1, 2023; (2) Electric Zoo had all the necessary equipment, materials, supplies, suppliers, vendors, labor and personnel to handle all the maintenance, construction, and build out for Electric Zoo’s design and infrastructure like the stages, seating, bathrooms, and concessions, (3) Electric Zoo would pass all inspections and tests done by the City and other agencies or regulators; (4) Electric Zoo would receive all the necessary permits and approvals by government agencies and other authorities to take place as scheduled; (5) Electric Zoo would not be oversold or exceed capacity; (6) Electric Zoo capacity and crown control would not violate, and comply at all times with, New York City fire codes and other capacity and safety rules and regulations applicable to New York concerts or festivals; (7) that everyone with a valid ticket would be able to attend and/or access Electric Zoo; and (8) EZNY had oversold their shows.”

A representative for Electric Zoo did not respond to Rolling Stone’s request for comment at press time.