Confusion reigns as heatwave triggers fan fallout over Florence and the Machine tickets

Disappointed fans say they were denied entry to premium areas at Wednesday night’s Florence and the Machine show despite paying extra — but organisers say it’s all a misunderstanding.

Ticketholders have vented online after confusion reigned over last night's Florence and the Machine show at Botanic Park. Picture: Simon Cross

• REVIEW: Florence and the Machine at Adelaide’s Botanic Park

Disappointed Florence and the Machine fans have flooded social media pages with complaints about Wednesday night’s Adelaide show, claiming they were denied access to a premium area despite paying extra for the privilege.

However, event organisers say all ticket holders received what they paid for but may have been confused by late changes to the venue layout.

Ben Williams posted his complaint to Facebook on Thursday afternoon, sparking a torrent of similar claims. Picture: Facebook.

While fans unanimously praised Florence and the Machine’s performance at Botanic Park on Wednesday night, hundreds took to social media on Thursday to complain they had been denied access to the front of the General Admission area while those with tickets to the rear of the venue were allowed in instead.

“I am highly disappointed that I was unable to get my friend and I, to the front general admission. I bought my ticket all the way back in July so I was one of the first people to buy my ticket, as you can see on my ticket,” Ben Williams wrote on the concert’s Facebook event page this afternoon.

More than 100 people responded within two hours voicing similar complaints.

Mr Williams told The Advertiser he believed security had not properly checked tickets after attendees had entered the venue, meaning anyone at the show had been able to enter the premium area.

“Security weren’t aware of the different tickets so it was just a free for all to get to the front,” he said.

One concert-goer wrote to The Advertiser echoing Mr Williams’ complaint.

“Last night security allowed all ticket holders in to the premium area, therefore we were refused entry,” Bron Pahl from Lameroo wrote.

Promoter Phil Rankine from Space Events said the complaints were born of a misunderstanding after late health and safety changes to mitigate extra hazards from this week’s heatwave.

“Health and safety is our first priority ... in the final week we decided to put a safety barrier up at front,” Mr Rankine said.

A map of the venue as provided to fans when they purchased their tickets. Picture: Supplied

“Without that you could have people surging and there have been incidents around the world where people have been crushed.”

Extra medical staff had also been employed.

Mr Rankine said that extra barrier created a false impression among many GA Front ticket holders that they had been relegated unfairly to the rear of the venue while in reality they were all allowed entry to the area they originally paid for.

Mr Rankine said signs had been posted, emails sent out and security guards informed of the changes.

Large lines formed as GA Front ticketholders tried to gain access to the fenced-off section at the front of the stage, which organisers confirmed had a limited capacity enforced by security.

The Advertiser has spoken to one concertgoer who confirmed a security guard at the show had informed them of the changes Mr Rankine described today, although they said the advice was difficult to understand at the time.

Florence and the Machine took to the stage from about 9pm until 10.30pm as the temperature at Kent Town dropped from 34.0 degrees to 30.9 with relative humidity peaking at 40 per cent at 10.30pm.

GA Front ticketholders would not be offered refunds, the promoter said.