Posted on 12/31/2005 10:33:11 PM PST by BurbankKarl
A large New Year's Eve street party in downtown Los Angeles was canceled without explanation Saturday night, prompting angry calls to the fire department.
Giant Village, billed as the "world's largest 21+ celebration," was to have featured the Black Eyed Peas and other music groups on six stages along Wilshire Boulevard, as well as a fireworks display, but late in the day it was canceled, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The fire department -- which had nothing to do with the cancellation -- was getting angry phone calls from people who drove to the area with reservations expecting the event to take place rain or shine, Humphrey said.
More than 20,000 people were expected to attend the event, which was to have begun at 8 p.m. and lasted until 4 a.m. Sunday
The event's information line was busy, and its Web site gave no explanation for the cancellation.
"Unfortunately, the Giant Village event has been cancelled," according to a message posted on a ticket Web site tonight. "If you bought tickets from Groove Tickets," you will be notified in the next 48 hours regarding refunds. On behalf of Giant, we apologize for the inconvenience."
Reserve tickets for the event were $80 to $150 for VIP tickets.
Over the past six years, Giant's New Year's Eve celebrations have raised more than $300,000 for various Los Angeles-based charities, and this year, donations were to go to the American Red Cross and Chrysalis, a nonprofit organization helping the homeless find jobs, according to organizers.
There was probably a bomb threat or terror warning.
.... or Tookie riots threatened .....
According to the event's website, it was weather related.
Ha...not raining right now.
Sounds like a scam to me.
My first guess would be a scam. Concerts are a lot more profitable if you don't have the expenses of bands and production.
DECEMBER 31, 2005
GIANT VILLAGE 2006 POSTPONED
GIANT VILLAGE 2006 regrets to inform our patrons that to protect the public and the performers, the event will not take place tonight. Information will be released shortly about a make-up event where tickets for GIANT VILLAGE 2006 will be honored.
At 4:30 p.m. today during meetings between event producers GIANT Los Angeles Inc. and officials of the City of Los Angeles, we were advised that the extreme weather conditions caused serious concern for public safety. Namely, city officials advised Giant that if the event were to proceed, numerous factors threatening public safety likely would result in the termination of the event sending away the full capacity crowd. Therefore, based on these discussions and the city’s recommendations, we determined to accede to the city’s direction to postpone the event at this time.
GIANT VILLAGE 2006 sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience this situation has caused our patrons and participating artists. We wish you all a very happy and safe New Year.
Sounds like a scam to me.
Since money going to Red Cross, that is one of the
largest scam orgs.
If you want fireworks, they start in 10 mins. on
the bay here in San Diego.
They cancelled the concert in LA because of the snowstorm in France, perhaps.
Weather in LA - partly cloudy and 55 degrees. Per weather.com.
Thanks BurbankKarl.
That's interesting.
See my post 10. Per the Weather Channel's web site, it's 55 and partly cloudy. No rain forcast until Monday. I notice in your posting they aren't offering refunds - only a make up concert at some later date. I'll be surprised if all of the money was accounted for on Tuesday morning.
You live there. Are there "extreme weather conditions" in progress?
It conflicted with the Mayor's plans missed photo op
There is a reporter live reporting CLEAR SKIES overhead....the tickets said Rain or Shine....
and if LAFD is saying they didnt shut the party down, I dont know who made the call...as there are streets shut down for this non party.
Organizers Cancel LA Giant Village Event
We have been informed that the "Giant Village" New Years Eve Event in Downtown Los Angeles has been cancelled by event organizers.
This was a decision made entirely by event organizers. There was no order from the Fire Marshal's Office.
WE AGAIN WISH TO STRESS, THE EVENT WAS CANCELLED BY EVENT ORGANIZERS AND NOT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE LAFD HAS NO FURTHER DETAILS.
For all further information, please contact event organizers through:
www.giantvillage.com
Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
Their insurance didn't come through. Seven times out of ten when an event is canceled without explanation it has to do with insurance coverage.
Might be in Mexico by now.
You mean the International Red Cross. The American Red Cross is one of THE BEST out there. Please do not confuse the two.
The Red Cross up in Bakersfield had some folks working
for them who were caught ripping off money last week.
Here in San Diego around 3 yrs ago the former head was
forced to quit. Major money stuff. Bill O'Reilly had
severl shows re this.
The list could go on and on.
Then WHY did the ARC try to scam off with the bulk of the donations for 9/11????????
They can all go to hell... (Why wasn't I invited????)
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