Controversial American rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, will not perform in Saint Petersburg, Russia, after two scheduled concerts were officially canceled by concert promoter Say Agency. The performances were originally planned for October 10 and 11 at the 80,000-seat Gazprom Arena, nos.nl reported.
Authorities investigate fraud after concerts are canceled
Say Agency announced the cancellation via Telegram, stating that the concerts cannot proceed on the planned dates and promising an official statement regarding the future status of the project. Ticket prices for the two arena dates ranged from 100 euros to 1,700 euros. Russian daily newspaper Kommersant reported that authorities launched an investigation into potential large-scale fraud surrounding ticket sales. One Saint Petersburg resident reportedly paid over 150,000 rubles—approximately 1,600 euros—for tickets. Refund processing for ticketholders is scheduled to begin on October 12.
Uncertainty surrounded the booking for weeks prior to the cancellation announcement. The Gazprom Arena stated the previous month that no formal agreement had been signed, preventing the venue from hosting the event. Saint Petersburg was subsequently removed from the artist’s tour schedule on September 18. Despite the initial lack of signed contracts, the initial announcement sparked a surge in travel bookings, with travelers rushing to secure train tickets to Saint Petersburg while cheaper admission tiers sold out almost immediately.
Why Saint Petersburg concerts were canceled?
Why were the Saint Petersburg concerts canceled?
Say Agency announced the cancellation on Telegram without detailing a specific reason, though the Gazprom Arena previously stated that no performance agreement had been signed. Russian authorities also launched a fraud investigation into the ticket sales.
How can ticketholders get their money back?
Ticketholders can begin receiving refunds for the canceled Saint Petersburg dates starting on October 12.
When and where were the performances supposed to take place?
The concerts were scheduled for October 10 and 11 at the Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg.
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