Steve Miller Band fans were not the only ones stunned when the band cancelled its entire 2025 US tour, citing climate change risks as the sole reason- this raises some interesting issues for the ticket refund industry.
Over 30 concerts were scheduled to take place across the U.S from August to November this year. Steve Miller’s explained the band’s decision:
"The combination of extreme heat, unpredictable flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes and massive forest fires make these risks for you our audience, the band and the crew unacceptable". His statement concluded with, "So… You can blame it on the weather… The tour is cancelled. Don't know where, don't know when… We hope to see you all again".
With the Vera Lynn refrain echoing in their ears, some fans who had bought tickets were supportive and understanding of the reason for cancelling the tour and acknowledged the band's longevity and the challenges of touring at their age, particularly with the reported extreme weather.
Others, however, were disappointed by the cancellation. They had been looking forward to the shows and found it hard to believe the entire tour was cancelled due to weather, given the varying conditions across the country.
There is a general recognition that climate change is impacting live music and other outdoor events. Some fans are seeing Steve Miller’s cancellation as a sign of things to come for the industry. This high-profile decision directly citing climate change as the reason, has definitely seen the conversation move to discussions about supporting artists during challenging times and adapting to a changing climate.
Extreme heat and record July temperatures led to some outdoor venues being declared unsafe and flooding led to travel routes to events being closed as well as flood alerts. There were last minute cancellations of some events during the US 2024 hurricane season plus the extensive wildfires in California led to air quality concerns throughout the region.
In The Steve Miller Band case, the fans were fortunate as the promoters immediately said they would refund tickets for the cancelled concerts, according to the Ozarks Amphitheater. Refunds were available at the point of purchase or for tickets purchased through Ticketmaster online, for example, there was an automatic refund to credit or debit cards.
What Happens When Fans Can’t Attend Due to Climate Disasters?
But what if circumstances had been different and it was a ticket holder who was the victim of climate change extreme weather and, as a result, were prevented from getting to a concert, which actually went ahead?
Nowadays, fans are prepared to travel long distances to see their favourite bands. Some of the big names are now in the 70’s or 80’s so perform less frequently but at bigger venues around the world. Packages are becoming the norm which include flights, hotels and a wraparound holiday as well as the concert tickets. Where do these ticket holders stand if their hometown is affected by a climate change event such as a major storm, flood or extreme heat and their local authority advises them to stay at home and not travel ?
If they have one, some may reach for their travel insurance policy to recoup their lost outlay. But that might not cover all their lost costs or may carry an excess which could exceed their ticket price.
What if they are travelling as a group to the concert and bought all their tickets together but only 1 or 2 are affected by the “not-to-travel” warning?
That is where a ticket refund programme for ticket holders such as that offered by Simple Refunds comes to the rescue. By paying a small fee they can extend the terms and conditions at the point of purchase to protect not just their and their group’s ticket price but also the whole transaction value of their package including hotels, airfares and merchandise. No excess is payable and there is no hassle applying for a refund, even if only 1 or 2 cannot attend.
So when a government or local authority issues a warning not to travel due to adverse weather which prevents the ticket holder attending or reaching their booked event, provided it goes ahead, by taking up the offer of a refund programme they can apply for a refund of their entire transaction cost. Whether your customers are traveling solo or in a group, they can protect their entire trip and ticket spend with Simple Refunds. Avoid the stress and get peace of mind for your clients with one click.