Kanye West concert rescheduled in Kazakhstan as fans resell tickets

Ticket resale listings have surged online after American rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, postponed his concert in Almaty, Kazakhstan, by one day because of adverse weather conditions.

The concert was moved from August 14 to August 15. On the afternoon of August 15, 59 resale listings were available on Ticketon, the official ticketing platform, for the event scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. local time. Prices started at 181,500 tenge ($392), according to TASS.

The number of listings was increasing, with six new offers appearing within about 30 minutes, according to observations cited by the news agency.

Official Ticketon prices range from 180,000 to 350,000 tenge ($390-$755), while another ticket was listed on Kazakhstan’s Kaspi platform for 156,000 tenge ($336).

The resale activity comes amid frustration among some concertgoers over the organisers’ decision not to offer refunds following the postponement.

According to the concert attendance rules published on Ticketon, tickets are non-refundable at the buyer’s request because of the terms of the agreement with the artist and the non-refundable costs incurred by the organiser. Refunds are permitted only in exceptional circumstances, including cancellation caused by the organiser, serious illness requiring hospitalisation or the death of a close relative.

The postponement and refund policy have prompted discussions on social media, including among fans who travelled to Almaty from other cities and now face difficulties returning home.

Tickets for the Almaty concert were also being offered at prices that were, on average, higher than those for another Ye concert in the United States scheduled as part of the same tour. Ticketmaster listings for his August 28 show in New Orleans showed prices ranging from $85.65 to $836 for VIP areas, while the most expensive seats directly in front of the stage were listed at $1,471.

The Almaty concert organiser, First Media Group, said the postponement was requested by Ye’s team because of a sudden deterioration in weather conditions.

Almaty experienced rain, thunderstorms and strong winds overnight, while parts of the city had also been affected by a widespread power outage before the concert was postponed.

“All tickets purchased remain valid and will be reactivated for the concert on August 15. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by these circumstances beyond our control,” the organisers said.

By Sabina Mammadli