Greta Van Fleet canceled at Hertz Arena, special fundraiser tickets offered for Tampa show
Hard rockers Greta Van Fleet won’t be playing Hertz Arena later this month, the band announced Thursday on Facebook. Their Oct. 22 show has been canceled.
The reason: The Estero venue is still being used as an emergency shelter, more than two weeks after Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida.
Hundreds of people are still living there in a space usually used for concerts and Florida Everblades hockey games.
“We wish we could be with you,” the band that formed in Frankenmuth, Michigan, wrote on Facebook, “and our hearts are with everyone affected by Hurricane Ian.”
It’s the second sold-out concert scrapped at Hertz Arena this week — both for the same reason. The Pitbull show on Saturday, Oct. 15, has been postponed. A new date for Pitbull will be announced later, the venue wrote Tuesday on Facebook.
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Ticket refunds will be available at the point of purchase, the band wrote. In addition, all Hertz ticket holders will be getting an email from Ticketmaster with an offer for specially priced tickets for the band's Oct. 26 show at Tampa's Amalie Arena.
Those tickets will also double as a fundraiser for Hurricane Ian victims.
"100% of the revenue from these and all TAMPA tickets sold from now until the show will be donated to the Florida Disaster fund to go directly to Hurricane Ian relief efforts," the band wrote. "We know this is not a replacement for the show you purchased tickets to, but we hope it is an opportunity to see you and give back to the community affected.
"Thank you for your understanding in these difficult times. Stay safe and we look forward to seeing everyone soon."
Here’s the full text of Greta Van Fleet’s statement:
"To our friends, family, and fans in Florida,
"In the wake of Hurricane Ian, Hertz Arena was activated as an emergency shelter and it has been determined it will continue to be utilized as such for the foreseeable future. As a result, our concert in Estero on October 22 must unfortunately be cancelled.
"We wish we could be with you and our hearts are with everyone affected by Hurricane Ian.
"Refunds are available at point of purchase and in addition, all Estero ticket purchasers will soon receive an email from Ticketmaster with an offer for specially priced tickets to our show in Tampa on October 26. 100% of the revenue from these and all TAMPA tickets sold from now until the show will be donated to the Florida Disaster fund to go directly to Hurricane Ian relief efforts.
"We know this is not a replacement for the show you purchased tickets to, but we hope it is an opportunity to see you and give back to the community affected.
"Thank you for your understanding in these difficult times. Stay safe and we look forward to seeing everyone soon.
"Josh, Jake, Sam & Danny"
Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. Email him at crunnells@gannett.com or connect on Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), Twitter (@charlesrunnells) and Instagram (@crunnells1).
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Hurricane Ian: Greta Van Fleet concert canceled at Hertz Arena
