LANY concert in Cebu cancelled over venue roof safety concerns

Local

THE sold-out concert of American pop-rock band LANY at SM Seaside Cebu Arena was cancelled after safety concerns involving a section of the venue’s roofing system were discovered during a sound check on Thursday, Nov. 12.

The Cebu City Government said the decision was made as a precautionary measure following an initial assessment by the Office of the Building Official (OBO), Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

In a statement issued on Friday, Nov. 13, the city government said the assessment identified a concern involving a specific section of the arena's ceiling system, prompting the cancellation to ensure the safety of concertgoers, performers and event personnel.

“Further technical assessments will be conducted to determine the necessary preventive and corrective measures,” it added.

The incident prompted concert promoter Live Nation Philippines (LNP) to initially announce the postponement of LANY's scheduled performance on Thursday evening.

However, the promoter confirmed on Friday that the concert would no longer push through and that tickets purchased for the show would be refunded.

LNP apologized for the unexpected development and the inconvenience caused to fans who had been looking forward to the performance.

LANY also expressed disappointment over the cancellation, assuring fans that their safety remained the band's priority.

"Your safety is our #1 priority, we are so sorry," the band said in a message shared on social media.

Lead vocalist Paul Klein also disclosed that he was already on his way to the venue when he received news about the safety concern.

In a separate statement, Klein said he was informed that four-foot steel debris had fallen from the venue's roof, raising concerns about the potential danger to concertgoers.

Klein said he would not want anyone to get seriously injured at one of the band's shows.

"I love Cebu, I love the Philippines, and I love and deeply appreciate every single one of our fans," he said, adding that the band hoped to return and perform for its Cebu supporters.

Bandmate Jake Goss likewise apologized to fans, saying the group was heartbroken that it could not perform for them.

"Cebu, it breaks our hearts that we can't play for you tonight. We're so sorry, you mean the world to our band!" Goss said.

The Cebu City Government, meanwhile, vowed cooperation between them, the event organizers and SM Seaside Cebu Arena in prioritizing public safety.

For its part, the management of SM Arena Seaside Cebu said that measures will be implemented to prevent similar instances from taking place in the future.

“Under OBO oversight, accredited third-party specialists are carrying out targeted maintenance and enhancement works to ensure compliance ahead of upcoming events,” it said in a separate statement.

They also told concertgoers that they will be announcing more information about refund details.

It also said concerned city offices would continue coordinating with the arena management to ensure that technical assessments, safety measures and compliance requirements were properly addressed before affected activities could resume.

The concert was part of LANY's "Soft" world tour, which included several stops in the Philippines.

The band had previously performed at SM Seaside Cebu Arena on Nov. 6 before returning to Cebu for its scheduled Nov. 12 show.

LANY, composed of Klein and Goss, is known for songs such as "ILYSB," "Malibu Nights" and "Thru These Tears."(RBE)