Eaton Area Senior Center director, Cindy Miller was at the Eaton County Fairgrounds Tuesday making final preparations when she received word Willie Nelson would not make it to Charlotte Thursday. His management team contacted Miller’s production team with the news that the concert would have to be postponed or cancelled all together.
“I chose to reschedule at a later date,” Miller said. “There were four concerts this week that have to be rescheduled so we are all cooperating to try to keep the routing the same. Each venue has chosen to reschedule.”
The date may not be known for a while. Those who purchased tickets for the Sept. 26 performance will have those tickets honored for whenever the concert is rescheduled.
Miller was informed that the concert would have to be rescheduled due to unforeseen circumstances. A report in The State Journal-Register in Springfield, Ill., where Nelson was scheduled to perform Friday, cited fatigue and illness following Nelson’s performance at Farm Aid over the Sept. 21 and 22 weekend.
Miller said too many tickets have been sold to reschedule the show for the Charlotte Performing Arts Center, even if it were split up into two performances. Due to the cooler temperatures expected in the near future, fans may have to wait until the spring or summer of 2014 to see Willie Nelson in Charlotte. Miller said if she doesn’t wait, she would have to move the concert to a venue outside of Charlotte.
“I would rather wait a little longer for warm weather to keep the concert in Charlotte,” Miller said. “I’m not going to let our local non-profits and businesses miss that opportunity.”
The concert was planned to be a major fundraiser for the Senior Center. Several other local non-profits got involved with plans to raise money at the event.
“We look forward to having him,” Miller said. “My shock and concern has turned to excitement that I get to develop this all over again. The community outpouring of support has been amazing.”
Those who wish to get a refund for their tickets can mail them to the Charlotte Performing Arts Center box office, located at 378 State St., Charlotte, MI 48813. Box office manager Hollie Auten suggests people mark attention Willie Nelson tickets and also specify if the tickets were purchased at one of the local outlets in Charlotte. She said tickets purchased at the CPAC box office by credit card will likely be refunded to the card used for purchase. Tickets purchased by cash or check will be refunded by check for the ticket price.
“At this point, we plan to use the same ticket for the rescheduled date,” Auten said. “There are no plans to reprint or reissue tickets. If that changes we will let everyone know.”
