Dissappointed fans stream from Mt Smart Stadium as Elton John's concert is cancelled amid heavy downpours in the city. Photo / Alanah Eriksen
Dissappointed fans stream from Mt Smart Stadium as Elton John's concert is cancelled amid heavy downpours in the city. Photo / Alanah Eriksen
UK music legend Sir Elton John has revealed he was “absolutely heartbroken” that Friday night’s show in Auckland was called off as a result of the severe weather that slammed Auckland.
The Auckland show at Mt Smart Stadium was cancelled at the last minute due to extreme weather conditions affecting the venue and much of the city. It is not yet known if tonight’s second show will proceed.
”I was at the venue and determined to play as the weather reports we received in advance weren’t fully conclusive,” he said in an update shared by promoters on Facebook.
”Ultimately, we had to follow the local emergency services’ decision to cancel. The safety of my fans, our team, and staff at Mt Smart Stadium is of the utmost importance.
“My heart goes out to those of you who made it into the stadium only to have to leave again and I truly share your frustration and disappointment.
“I never want to let my fans down and deeply love it each and every time I have the honour of playing for you in New Zealand.
“We’re monitoring the situation closely with local authorities and will let ticket buyers of tomorrow night’s show know as soon as humanly possible of any changes.”
Earlier, some fans waiting in the pouring rain had booed the announcement at the stadium that the concert would be cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions.
Fans were evacuated from the stadium and asked to follow venue staff’s directions.
Disappointed fans stream from Mt Smart Stadium as Elton John's concert is cancelled amid heavy downpours in the city. Photo / Alanah Eriksen
“Auckland, due to unsafe weather conditions tonight’s Elton John concert at Mt Smart Stadium has been cancelled. The team is assessing things and will keep informing everyone with further updates in due course,” the promoter of the concert confirmed.
The Herald received reports from concertgoers that the weather had made travel to the venue difficult, with fans having to trudge through large puddles.
Elton John concert-goers evacuate Mt Smart Stadium after announcements the concert was cancelled following heavy rain. Photo / Nick Bewley
People didn’t have to be told twice and poured quickly out of the stadium
One woman said, “If other people can play in the rain why can’t Elton John?”
General anger rose from the audience that they had come out but the British musician wouldn’t.
Witnesses told the Herald of flash flooding on streets around the stadium.
Others described chaos getting Ubers and transport from the venue.
Punters told the Herald they were outraged the concert was cancelled half an hour before John was meant to be on stage.
One, who came up from Mt Maunganui, said: “They knew the weather was going to be atrocious but they said Elton would play rain or shine. So we made the effort to travel into the stadium in dodgy conditions.
“Now we are stuck trying to get out of Onehunga, which is completely flooded, which is even more dangerous.”
