South by Southwest agrees to settle lawsuit over no-refund policy for canceled 2020 event
Some of the people who purchased credentials to attend the canceled South By Southwest festival in 2020 could be eligible to get part of their money back after SXSW LLC, the company behind the annual event, agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit over the event's no-refund policy.
SXSW was called off a week before it was scheduled to start in March 2020 when Austin Mayor Steve Adler declared a public disaster amid mounting COVID-19 concerns. The festival, which annually attracts more than 100,000 people to Austin, was among the first major events canceled as the pandemic swept into Texas.
After the event was shut down, SXSW LLC said it was in a "dire financial situation." The company laid off about a third of its 175 year-round employees.
In April 2020, SXSW LLC said that it lacked the financial resources to issue refunds to people who bought passes. Instead, the company offered a deferral package option, which would allow people to use their entry fees to attend the event in 2021, 2022 or 2023, and get 50% off the walk-up rate in any of those years. About 80% of purchasers accepted the offer and granted SXSW a release of claims, the lawsuit said.
Read more: https://www.statesman.com/story/business/2021/10/22/sxsw-music-festival-austin-covid-south-by-southwest-lawsuit-settlement/6134006001/