Refunds for American Utopia at Hudson Theater?

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 9/7/20 at 9:30am

Anyone with info newer than the June email sent out by Ambassador Theater Group about refunds for American Utopia?

 

I sent them an email today, will update this thread when/if I hear back

[Kimbo]

Posted: 9/7/20 at 1:03pm

They’re a nightmare. I only received a refund for Plaza Suite, and an apology, from the Hudson Theatre after following others’ advice on here and a) disputing the charge and instigating a credit card investigation with my credit card company, b) filing a formal complaint with the Department of Consumer Affairs of NYC, and c) filing a similar complaint with the New York State Attorney General Consumer Complaint Department. (I heard back from all three, very helpful and prompt). This was after numerous emails and attempts to reach them by phone. (I should also add I received refunds for 20-some other shows automatically, without having to make any complaints, threats, or jumping through any hoops at all.)

 

I don’t relish the thought of having to do that all over again for the two sets of tickets I have for two dates for American Utopia, so I’m patiently waiting to see how they’ll handle it this time... but if they once again ‘helpfully’ move my seats to a performance more than a year later, or reschedule the entire run for sometime in 2022, i.e. two years after I first purchased tickets, then I’ll be forced to do the same thing as before and won’t hesitate this time. Luckily, now, I even have names and numbers of who to directly contact in those various complaint departments.

Updated On: 9/7/20 at 01:03 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/7/20 at 1:45pm

The Hudson was the only headache I encountered this year regarding ticket refunds. They are the WORST. 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/7/20 at 1:59pm

I really want to jump on good prices and availability for Plaza Suite this spring, but after hearing what a nightmare this group is, I am holding off. We have no guarantees that shows resume in March and I am in no mood for a hassle. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/7/20 at 3:07pm

Bettyboy72 said: "I really want to jump on good prices and availability for Plaza Suite this spring, but after hearing what a nightmare this group is, I am holding off. We have no guarantees that shows resume in March and I am in no mood for a hassle."

are they selling socially distanced seats? If not, I would say there is zero chance that they will not be forced to refund most of the tickets sold, which in turn means they will very likely fold up their tent and go home. 

[Kimbo]

Posted: 9/7/20 at 3:24pm

HogansHero said: "are they selling socially distanced seats? If not, I would say there is zero chance that they will not be forced to refund most of the tickets sold, which in turn means they will very likely fold up their tent and go home."

Meaning ATG leaving New York, right?  This is exactly what I'm afraid of.  Their partner, Sonia Friedman, told the British press recently that without government intervention, "70% of UK theatres could close by Christmas", including some of her own.  Their US presence consists of Harry Potter -which was starting to struggle mightily over here even before COVID - and the Hudson Theatre, which they've only been operating since 2017 (though it is a long-term lease).  Though they've had some very successful productions (Sunday in the Park, Burn This), it may prove to have been just the wrong time for them to expand to the U.S.

(Also, while Plaza Suite was shaping up to be a sell-out smash - pre-pandemic - let's remember that the Spike Lee concert filming of American Utopia will be premiering about a month from now, Oct. 18th, on HBO and HBO Max,  True, no one seems to think that Hamilton's availability on Disney will hurt it at the box office when theatre returns.... but if Broadway isn't back till more than a year from now (and since American Utopia couldn't return to the Hudson sooner than that anyway, since Plaza Suite is CURRENTLY scheduled to run through next summer... assuming the Neil Simon revival doesn't get delayed or postponed yet again...) - to me there's a very real question about whether theatergoers will still want to pay $100-$300 or whatever the range is to see the exact same concert that by then will have been streaming, basically for free, for more than a year.   (I'm sure  they know this - and that's why, assuming they're even still in business, I expect them to be even more difficult about refunds for this one than they were for Plaza Suite.)

 

Updated On: 9/7/20 at 03:24 PM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/7/20 at 5:06pm

American Utopia is a bad example to use in the "will filming a show hurt ticket sales" debate. The majority of audience members going to see American Utopia will be doing so because they're fans of David Byrne/the Talking Heads. I would guess that these fans would always pick seeing him live over seeing a video of him in concert, for the same reason.

With something like Diana, by contrast, people would be seeing it more for the story and the central character, and that can be experienced on Netflix just as easily as it can live. But with a concert performed by a famous musician, there's a huge incentive to seeing it live over filmed. 

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 9/8/20 at 6:00am

Autoreply email over the weekend referred only to UK productions and refunds.  If I don't hear anything further today I will commence chargeback processes

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/8/20 at 11:47am

HogansHero said: "Bettyboy72 said: "I really want to jump on good prices and availability for Plaza Suite this spring, but after hearing what a nightmare this group is, I am holding off. We have no guarantees that shows resume in March and I am in no mood for a hassle."

are they selling socially distanced seats? If not, I would say there is zero chance that they will not be forced to refund most of the tickets sold, which in turn means they will very likely fold up their tent and go home."

Hogan, They are selling the theatre business as usual from what I can see. 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 9/8/20 at 11:55am

Wee Thomas2 said: "Autoreply email over the weekend referred only to UK productions and refunds. If I don't hear anything further today I will commence chargeback processes"

Have you tried calling the Hudson box office? The number is [phone]. 

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 9/9/20 at 9:39am

Called that number yesterday afternoon.  On hold 5-7 minutes then a representative picked up.  Told me they had moved me to similar day/date/time in late 2021. I asked if a refund was possible and she said "yes".

 

Confirmed the last 4 digits of my card, told me 5-7 business days for full refund including fees.  Saw the credit hit my card about an hour ago.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 9/9/20 at 11:00am

I'm glad that worked out. I'm assuming they don't publicize calling the box office because of very limited staffing, but my phone experience for Plaza Suite was similarly painless. That being said, their lack of transparency is pretty shady.

Updated On: 9/9/20 at 11:00 AM