Families in Bern who purchased tickets for a highly anticipated "Paw Patrol" musical are facing disappointment and financial loss after the event was abruptly canceled. The German-based organizer has become unreachable, leaving both ticket holders and the Bern venue without payment or answers.
Key Takeaways
- A "Paw Patrol - The Musical" event scheduled for October 12 in Bern has been canceled by the venue.
- The German organizer failed to pay the venue and is now unresponsive to inquiries from parents and the venue management.
- Ticket holders, who paid up to 40 francs for two tickets, have not received refunds.
- The venue, Hotel and Restaurant National, reports significant financial losses and reputational concerns.
- The ticket seller continued sales for weeks after the venue officially canceled the event.
Event Canceled Due to Contract Breach
The popular children's show "Paw Patrol" has a massive global following, with licensed merchandise and live events generating billions in revenue. Capitalizing on this popularity, a musical performance was advertised to take place at the Hotel and Restaurant National in Bern on October 12.
However, the event has been officially canceled by the venue. Pablo Arango, the general manager of the hotel, confirmed that the decision was made after the German organizer breached their contract. The agreement, signed in March, stipulated a deposit for the hall rental to be paid by June. That payment was never made.
"Since the contract was signed in March, the organizer never contacted us again and is no longer reachable," Arango stated. He explained that despite the missed payment, he gave the organizer additional time. The lack of communication and payment ultimately forced the cancellation a month ago.
A Pattern of Unresponsiveness
The breakdown in communication was total. According to the venue, the organizer failed to meet key contractual obligations, including a crucial down payment for the venue hire. This lack of professionalism raised red flags, leading the hotel to sever ties to protect its own interests and prevent further issues on the day of the planned event.
Families Face Disappointment and Financial Loss
The cancellation has left many parents frustrated. One mother, identified as Sarah, purchased two tickets for 40 francs as a special treat for her three-year-old son, a dedicated "Paw Patrol" fan. She discovered the cancellation notice on the venue's website, not from the organizer.
"My son was incredibly sad, but I'm glad I found out beforehand and not at the venue," she said. "I can just imagine all the sad children's faces when they show up and have to be sent home."
Sarah's attempts to secure a refund have been unsuccessful. She reported that the organizer is ignoring all phone calls and emails. "It's outrageous to keep posters up for a fake event and take money from so many families," she expressed.
"It's simply a disgrace to still have posters up everywhere for a fake event and to take money out of the pockets of so many families this way."
She is not alone. Other affected parents have connected through a Facebook group, sharing similar experiences and warning others about the event. Two other mothers from the group confirmed they also could not reach the organizer for information or a refund.
Venue and Ticket Seller Under Scrutiny
The situation has also put the Bern venue in a difficult position. Pablo Arango expressed deep frustration over the incident, which has caused both financial and reputational damage to his historic establishment.
"We never received any money and have suffered immense losses because we couldn't rent the space to anyone else," Arango explained. Because the venue was never paid, it is unable to offer any compensation to the ticket holders. Arango has been fielding many calls from concerned parents.
Continued Ticket Sales After Cancellation
A significant issue arose with the ticket vendor, a separate German website. Arango confirmed that his team instructed the ticket provider to halt all sales one month ago when the event was officially canceled. However, he stated, "They continued selling tickets anyway and only stopped about a week ago." The exact number of tickets sold remains unknown to the venue.
This delay in stopping sales means that some families may have purchased tickets for an event that was already known to be canceled. The legal process is complicated by the cross-border nature of the transaction, as both the organizer and ticket seller are based in Germany.
Conflicting Information and Future Concerns
Adding to the confusion, the ticket sales website was recently updated with a new message. It now claims the event was postponed "due to tragic reasons concerning the organizer."
However, Pablo Arango at the Hotel National firmly refutes this. He confirmed he has no knowledge of any such reasons or any plans for postponement. "I will certainly never work with this organizer again," he stated, making it clear that the event will not be rescheduled at his venue.
Concerns are also growing about other events promoted by the same organizer. The event website also lists a "Lilo & Stitch Show" at a different location. The status of that event is currently unconfirmed, raising fears that other families could be similarly affected.
Affected parents continue to seek recourse, but with an unresponsive organizer and a complex international situation, their chances of receiving a refund appear slim.