E-mail to Jonas Bros. fans says show is canceled

Don't hang onto those Jonas Brothers tickets.

The show is officially canceled, not postponed.

An e-mail sent to fans who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster's website went out today saying their money - minus Ticketmaster's non-refundable add-on fees - will be refunded.

"The e-mail states that Ticketmaster "feel(s) your pain," which may be slim comfort to the parents and children who waited hours in the rain with little of no communication from the band or the venue.

For the past five months, Gabby Sassin had been counting down the days to the Jonas Brothers concert at the 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre.

Finally, Wednesday night came and 14-year-old Sassin, her 17-year-old sister and their father arrived at the venue 30 minutes before the opening act was scheduled to perform at 7 p.m.

They never got into the amphitheater. And worse, they never got to see the Jonas Brothers.

An intense late Wednesday afternoon storm flooded the venue. Photos showed water covering some rows of seats and the pit area, said Gabby Sassin, a freshman at Newsome High.

Gabby Sassin's father, Dan Sassin, said they waited until 8:45 p.m. and then left. But no one at the venue told them the concert was cancelled. They just made the young fans and parents wait, he said.

"I'm upset; they told people to wait for so long," said Dan Sassin of Lithia. "The reason I heard it was cancelled is because I turned on the radio and 93.3 (FM) announced it on the radio."

"Instead of delaying the cancellation, I wished they had told people a lot earlier," he said.

The amphitheater released a statement Wednesday night saying flash flooding in the area resulted in "unsafe concert conditions at the venue" and the Jonas Brothers concert had to be cancelled.

Beginning Thursday morning, refunds will be available at the point of purchase. No
reschedule date was announced.

An amphitheater representative said the band showed up for the sound check but didn't take the stage to perform. The majority of the fans weren't allowed inside.

Gabby Sassin, who calls herself an obsessed Jonas Brothers fan, said she isn't upset with the band but is disappointed the venue let her and other fans down.

"I'm still a fan," Gabby Sassin said. "I'm hoping for a new concert. I don't blame the Jonas Brothers."