PHILADELPHIA (CelebrityAccess) — Josh Groban has moved a show from the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, claiming that the venue was "gouging" his fans.
In an interview with local radio host Chris Stigall on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT on Tuesday, Groban said he was planning to move his upcoming September 16th performance from the Kimmel Center.
“They’re the only venue that we booked where they wanted to charge an extra $20-something to the fans and we said, ‘If you do that we’re going to move venues’ and they said ‘Well, we’re gonna do it,’ so we said, ‘Ok.’ They tried to gouge the fans in ways other venues weren’t doing so we left,” Groban told Stigall.
The show has now reportedly been booked for September 16th at the Crown Theatre.
A spokesperson for the Kimmel Center subsequently issued a statement to on the matter to CBS News.
"We were surprised by the comments made by Mr. Josh Groban this morning during a radio interview in Philadelphia. The Kimmel Center worked very closely with our co-presenting partner Live Nation on this concert, and they decided to go to the Tower Theater before our negotiations were complete. Unfortunately, Mr. Groban was ill-informed. The Kimmel Center’s ticketing system is on par with other performing arts centers both locally and nationally, providing a valuable patron experience among its campus-wide venues. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is a world-class performing arts venue that serves broad and diverse audiences from throughout Greater Philadelphia. A part of our mission is to bring quality programming and talented artists to the wonderful people living in our great city." – Staff Writers
