Is Electric Zoo The New Fyre Festival?

The first day of New York’s Electric Zoo festival (1 September) has been suddenly cancelled, with organisers citing “global supply chain disruptions”, revealing that delays have led to the main stage not being built on time.

“Based on images and sources inside #ElectricZoo — it's evident that the mainstage construction is not only far from complete, but day one was never going to happen given its current state,” The Festive Owl shared in a social media post, re-sharing Electric Zoo’s photo of the main stage’s construction.

The cancellation of day one of Electric Zoo on the afternoon it was set to take place has upset fans and ticketholders, with people commenting on social media that the festival should have been better prepared.

Festival organisers wrote on Facebook just seven hours ago – midday in New York, when punters were likely already on the grounds: “It is with a broken heart that we deeply regret to inform you that, despite our tireless efforts and round-the-clock commitment, we have made the painful decision to cancel the first day of Electric Zoo.”

Citing the aforementioned disruptions, organisers added, “We feel the weight of the disappointment and frustration, and we're so sorry to let our Electric Zoo family down.”

The statement added that festivalgoers with Friday tickets will receive full refunds, while multiple-day ticketholders will receive a credit for the cancellation of day one of the three-day festival. Friday bus and ferry ticket holders will also be refunded, and those with multiple-day transportation organised will receive a refund for the equivalent of one day’s price.

Organisers continued to say that days two and three are scheduled to go ahead. If they do, day two will see a bunch of Aussies hit the Electric Zoo stage, including Alison Wonderland, Timmy Trumpet and Godlands set to perform.

A representative for the New York City Hall told PIX 11 News, “New Yorkers’ safety is always the top priority of the Adams administration, and we respect that the organizers [sic] of Electric Zoo have made the responsible decision to cancel the first day of the festival while they continue working to provide a safe environment for all attendees.”

Organisers are “profoundly sorry” for the inconvenience and disappointment of a cancelled day one, but “Your safety and experience are always paramount, and we did not want to compromise the quality and integrity of the event you truly deserve.”

You can check out the full festival line-up here.