A concert by U.S. rock band Guns N’ Roses, slated for Friday night at Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in Tibás, was suspended shortly before showtime after promoters determined that a faulty stage setup posed a safety hazard for both the band and fans. As of Sunday evening, there was no word from the event’s promoters on whether the show would be rescheduled.
On Friday afternoon, the production company 28 Producciones, the event’s promoter in Costa Rica, held an emergency press conference to announce the postponement. According to Juan Carlos Campos of 28 Producciones, the stage was unable to support the weight of the massive screen that serves as the band’s backdrop during performances. Campos said the stage had not been properly assembled due to heavy rains in the San José area throughout the week.
Fans waiting outside the stadium reacted with shouts and minor protests following the announcement, though no arrests or injuries were reported.
The concert had been surrounded by uncertainty since its announcement in early March. Costa Rica was not originally included in Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy world tour. Still, in early March, 28 Producciones announced that the 1980s and ’90s hard rock band would perform in San José, despite a February 28 post on the band’s official Facebook page suggesting otherwise. On March 18, Guns N’ Roses confirmed plans for a Central American tour with stops in Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica. The band was scheduled to perform in El Salvador on Sunday and in Guatemala on Tuesday.
In response to the cancellation, lead singer Axl Rose posted a statement on Twitlonger.com, a site linked to Twitter:
“3 shows 2 go!! No word on if there’ll b a makeup 4 Costa Rica. Though we’d obviously rather have had a fun show, we’re more than thankful the very real n’ serious staging problems were discovered b4 hand n’ no one was hurt.”
According to the 28 Producciones website, the company is working to reschedule the concert, possibly as soon as this week. If the concert cannot be rescheduled, the company has assured fans they will be reimbursed for their tickets.
