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Cape Town - The QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) has slammed organisers of the U2 360° concert in Johannesburg, saying that disabled patrons were not considered in the local ticketing structure.
In an e-mail statement, Ari Seirlis, National Director of QASA, said: "Ticket prices for the Soweto event start at R161 but the cheapest ticket price for wheelchair users is R856, as the wheelchair seats fall into this area.
"…and, as there is no two-for-one deal in place, wheelchair users shall be forced to pay a minimum price of R1712 if they require the assistance of a caregiver or companion."
The e-mail goes on to cite the Australian leg of the tour, where organisers eventually arranged a cheaper ticketing structure for wheelchair-bound patrons.
Seating problems
Seirlis states that he contacted Big Concerts in this regard. "Big Concerts have taken the stand that the Stadia must sort out seating problems and provide seating for wheelchairs at all levels… Big Concerts have insisted that the ticket prices will remain in the highest bracket and have declared the case closed with no further discussion to take place."
"Members of QASA, fans of U2 who are wheelchair users and the general public are outraged at the response and are calling on the band to respond to the manner in which the organisers have treated this constituency.
"QASA will be engaging with Bono of U2 asking for his influence and authority to resolve the issue and sensitise the arrogance and ignorance of the respective CEOs."
The dispute is specific to the Johannesburg stadium – in Cape Town, wheelchair areas were located in all the relevant pricing blocks.
Stadium design
But in alleged e-mail correspondence between the parties concerned – which was included in QASA's e-mail – Big Concerts conceded that the pricing structure was determined by the stadium design, meaning that the only areas catering to wheelchair-bound patrons were located in those specific pricing blocks.
Big concerts CFO Justin van Wyk said in an e-mail: "(The) Safety at Sports & Recreational Events Act of 2010 makes it impossible for (Big Concerts) as an event organiser to simply create another area, and especially not if the stadium already has a seating rational design with designated disabled areas which was approved by the Metro Fire Department."
Big Concerts subsequently directed QASA to the stadium management, but no resolution has as yet been affected.
E-mail
In an alleged e-mail from Attie Louw, the Big Concerts CEO states: "Although it is unfortunate that options are not available at every level, it is totally unacceptable that you've (Seirlis) made it look like we are discriminating against disabled persons knowing that it is not us but the stadium design that is at fault, and when Justin (van Wyk – CFO, Big Concerts) investigated this matter and put you onto Jacques Grobbelaar (stadium management), you refused and continued to direct your complaints to Big Concerts – knowing full well that we cannot change the stadium design.
"Your suggestion to apply differential pricing because one person is disabled and another (is not) is simply impractical and we cannot understand how you attempt to rationalise price discrimination while appealing to us to show ethics.
"The position of a seat in relation to the stage is how pricing is determined, regardless of race, age, gender or being disabled.
"We suggest you continue your efforts to resolve this matter with stadium management."
Big Concerts CFO Justin van Wyk was not immediately available for direct comment.
Tickets for U2 360° in Johannesburg are available through Computicket.
Disabled seating area for wheelchair bound patrons and their companions (2 tickets) are located on the 2nd Level in Blocks 203, 204, 215 to 222 and Blocks 224 - 230 row DA. The wheelchair patron and companion both pay full price.
In an e-mail statement, Ari Seirlis, National Director of QASA, said: "Ticket prices for the Soweto event start at R161 but the cheapest ticket price for wheelchair users is R856, as the wheelchair seats fall into this area.
"…and, as there is no two-for-one deal in place, wheelchair users shall be forced to pay a minimum price of R1712 if they require the assistance of a caregiver or companion."
The e-mail goes on to cite the Australian leg of the tour, where organisers eventually arranged a cheaper ticketing structure for wheelchair-bound patrons.
Seating problems
Seirlis states that he contacted Big Concerts in this regard. "Big Concerts have taken the stand that the Stadia must sort out seating problems and provide seating for wheelchairs at all levels… Big Concerts have insisted that the ticket prices will remain in the highest bracket and have declared the case closed with no further discussion to take place."
"Members of QASA, fans of U2 who are wheelchair users and the general public are outraged at the response and are calling on the band to respond to the manner in which the organisers have treated this constituency.
"QASA will be engaging with Bono of U2 asking for his influence and authority to resolve the issue and sensitise the arrogance and ignorance of the respective CEOs."
The dispute is specific to the Johannesburg stadium – in Cape Town, wheelchair areas were located in all the relevant pricing blocks.
Stadium design
But in alleged e-mail correspondence between the parties concerned – which was included in QASA's e-mail – Big Concerts conceded that the pricing structure was determined by the stadium design, meaning that the only areas catering to wheelchair-bound patrons were located in those specific pricing blocks.
Big concerts CFO Justin van Wyk said in an e-mail: "(The) Safety at Sports & Recreational Events Act of 2010 makes it impossible for (Big Concerts) as an event organiser to simply create another area, and especially not if the stadium already has a seating rational design with designated disabled areas which was approved by the Metro Fire Department."
Big Concerts subsequently directed QASA to the stadium management, but no resolution has as yet been affected.
In an alleged e-mail from Attie Louw, the Big Concerts CEO states: "Although it is unfortunate that options are not available at every level, it is totally unacceptable that you've (Seirlis) made it look like we are discriminating against disabled persons knowing that it is not us but the stadium design that is at fault, and when Justin (van Wyk – CFO, Big Concerts) investigated this matter and put you onto Jacques Grobbelaar (stadium management), you refused and continued to direct your complaints to Big Concerts – knowing full well that we cannot change the stadium design.
"Your suggestion to apply differential pricing because one person is disabled and another (is not) is simply impractical and we cannot understand how you attempt to rationalise price discrimination while appealing to us to show ethics.
"The position of a seat in relation to the stage is how pricing is determined, regardless of race, age, gender or being disabled.
"We suggest you continue your efforts to resolve this matter with stadium management."
Big Concerts CFO Justin van Wyk was not immediately available for direct comment.
Tickets for U2 360° in Johannesburg are available through Computicket.
Disabled seating area for wheelchair bound patrons and their companions (2 tickets) are located on the 2nd Level in Blocks 203, 204, 215 to 222 and Blocks 224 - 230 row DA. The wheelchair patron and companion both pay full price.
