Pete FreedmanAfter Plano Backs Out Of Hosting Starfest, Embattled Music Festival Finds New Home At Grand Prairie Horse Racing Track Lone Star Park And Cuts Ticket Prices.
Update at 5:15 p.m. on August 21: Well, it seems Starfest may have jumped the gun on its new venue announcement, too. Head here for the latest on As The Starfest Turns.
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Starfest ain’t dead just yet, folks.
Despite a curious roll out, a pending lawsuit that alleges that its organizers have been lying and underutting its talent buyers, its initial venue claiming breach of contract as a way to back out of its involvement and the representatives for at least one of its headliners (Flo Rida) denying that its talent has been confirmed for the fest, Starfest’s organizers have maintained that, despite all of those setbacks, their show will indeed go on. And, late last night, the festival took a major step in that direction, announcing that it had found a new home for its September 8 and 9 offering.
According to its own web site, Starfest will now take place at Grand Prairie horse racing track Lone Star Park. On Friday night, the website posted the news with a self-congratulatory note that celebrated this coup that had been made in the face of constant “negative press.” This morning, that note has been replaced with a message that says “The public has spoken and we have listened very carefully!” That message then continues to list how the amenities that Lone Star Park will provide — reduced infrastructure and parking costs among them — will save the organizers money and, in turn, save ticket-buyers money too, to the tune of ticket costs being reduced by almost 50 percent.
“We feel that this new venue will give you a far better experience than we originally anticipated,” the web site now reads. “By moving locations, we have come into some unexpected positives that will make our festival goers quite happy.”
Later, it adds the following: “We have been able to cut the costs on everything we were going to spend on the original location from restrooms, police officers, parking control, barricades, food, staffing, sound equipment, stages, and dozens of other areas. This all goes to the customer now while adding many features that will give you the additional bands, more creature comforts and more seating selections for your budget.”
Single-day general admission passes which were once starting at $87 now run $56 after fees, and two-day passes that were once $140 before fees have now dropped to $99 after fees. Other prices have also dropped, although the highest-end offerings remain shockingly high, with a “VIP Universe Private Luxury Suite With All Access Pass” running $15,000 before a $1,200 additional fee.
It’s worth noting, of course, that it’s still uncertain what talents ticket-buyers will be seeing with the purchase of a ticket. Despite having long been listed on Starfest’s site, representatives for Flo Rida — who is very much confirmed as playing the State Fair of Texas later in September — denied to Billboard that their client had been confirmed to play Starfest. Meanwhile, DJ Carnage remains the only announced touring act on Starfest’s bill who also lists the event on his own upcoming show calendar.
But, hey, Starfest does appear to have added another performer to its roster: While she doesn’t yet appear on the Starfest main page, a flier on the ticket-purchasing link implies that Youtuber Kylee Renee Clark is now a part of the festivities.
As ever, we’ll continue to update you with more Starfest information as it becomes available.