Westlife's Fans Were Forced To Stand Or Go Home After Seating Mishap At Gig

Westlife were forced to apologise on Tuesday night as hundreds of concert-goers who paid for a seat were told to stand or go home when their seats did not arrive.

In the second location of their Twenty Tour in Glasgow's SSE Hydro, elderly and disabled customers who physically required a seat had no option to leave after a transport delay.

Less than an hour before the show, the SSE Hydro posted on Facebook letting fans know that the the seats would not be arriving. The post read: "Due to transport delays, the seating layout for the Westlife show this evening has been changed. The event was originally fully seated and is now a seated and standing show."

The arena then listed the twelve blocks that would now be required to stand, before adding: "If you are unable to stand or prefer not to, you will be entitled to a full refund from your original point of purchase."

The band were later forced to make an apology on stage on behalf of the organisers.

Many of the fans had paid up to £200 on a ticket while some had even forked out on VIP experiences costing £1,000, only to be told they had to stand.

One unhappy fan, Sophie, told The Mirror than she had taken her disabled mother to the gig, claiming that when she arrived, staff refused to give her mother a wheelchair to sit in.

Sophie explained: "I don't go to concerts to stand because my asthma is too bad, small enclosed spaces don't work for me.

"I was told when I got here I could stand or get a full refund. That's all."

PA

Sophie added: "I asked for a wheelchair for my disabled mother and was told she can either deal with it and stand or go home and come back to the Hydro tomorrow for a refund, so I've got to drive all way back to Glasgow for a refund."

Another fan, Michelle, vented on Twitter: "I am absolutely LIVID. Sorry but Westlife must be having a laugh. Paid £102 for a seat in the 4th row to find out an hour before it's due to start that it's now standing. How is it our problem that half the set didn't turn up or whatever?"

The next day, Glasgow's SSE Hydro issued a follow up statement saying the seating mishap was "a rare and isolated incident," adding: "The remainder of the Twenty Tour at Glasgow's SSE Hydro and across the U.K. will not be subject to any further seating issues.

"Westlife are committed to delivering an unmissable show for their dedicated fans."

Westlife's Twenty Tour began in Belfast on Wednesday, 22nd May.

Topics: Entertainment News, Music

Ciara Sheppard

Ciara is a freelance journalist working for Tyla. After graduating from the University of Sussex, Ciara worked as a writer at GLAMOUR Magazine and later as the Assistant Editor of Yahoo Style UK.

@ciarasheppard