Electric Zoo Organizers Facing Class Action Lawsuit After Contentious 2023 Festival

Two plaintiffs have filed a class action lawsuit against the organizers of Electric Zoo 2023, Rolling Stone reports.

Following the contentious cancellation of the electronic music festival's opening day on Randall's Island due to "global supply chain disruptions," its third and final day was plagued by capacity concerns. After organizers released a midday statement announcing they were denying entry to the grounds, videos of ticket-holders storming the festival's gates flooded social media.

Electric Zoo in 2022 was purchased by the investment group behind Brooklyn hotspot Avant Gardner for $15 million. In the wake of this year's festival, the NYPD ultimately confirmed the consortium oversold passes by roughly 7,000.

Plaintiffs Nicole Brockmole and Lauren Bair, who reportedly filed the lawsuit Wednesday in a New York district court, were two of the thousands of pass-holders who were barred from entering the festival's grounds. Citing "deceptive acts," their suit seeks damages on behalf of "all affected patrons who paid for ticket(s) for access or entry to [Electric Zoo] were not granted access."

"In addition to Friday's cancellation, and perhaps more egregiously, things turned worse for Electric Zoo fans on Sunday when they were left to languish in heatwave for hours after being greeted by never ending lines to enter the festival and eventually denied entry because the venue was oversold and overcrowded," the suit states, per Rolling Stone.

Roughly 88,000 people attended Electric Zoo in 2023, according to the NYPD. Organizers said they plan to issue full refunds to holders of the festival's Friday ticket as well as those who were denied entry on Sunday.