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BottleRock Still Waits For Angels
BottleRock festival organizers have reportedly sent settlement letters to at least the city of Napa, Calif., and the Expo fairgrounds that hosted the May festival, offering to pay some or all of the monies owed them.
But there’s a hitch: The payment is dependent on unidentified “investors” stepping up by Oct. 15.
Organizers Bob Vogt and Gabe Meyers have long touted a search for potential investors since it became public knowledge that many vendors and festival crews weren’t paid after the early May festival in Napa.
At least $2.5 million in unpaid bills have rolled up – with some estimates reaching much higher.
Napa Expo CEO Joe Anderson told the Napa Valley Register that it received a letter from an attorney representing Vogt. Anderson told the paper the Expo would be paid the full $310,000 it is owed by Oct. 15 “if pending investors step forward as planned.”
But Anderson told the paper that “if they don’t get the investors, it’s not worth anything.”
Anderson also told the Register that future BottleRock festivals at the site – tickets are already on sale for a 2014 event – are in jeopardy.
“Unless we and the other creditors are made whole, we’re not going to move forward with a contract” for a future BottleRock. It’s not known if other creditors have received such letters, and Meyers told the paper they were confidential and he could not comment on them.
“We appreciate everyone being patient with this process,” Meyer told the Register. ”We haven’t given up. We’re working hard to make good on all our debts so this festival can move forward.”