Rod Stewart's Tulsa Concert Canceled Because Of Illness

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Thursday night's Rod Stewart concert at the BOK Center was canceled on Thursday morning.  So what happened?  And, how can people get their money back?

The raspy-voiced Rod Stewart has a sore throat.  The BOK Center was planning on a crowd of about 8,000 fans.  But, they got word on Thursday morning that Stewart was sick and on his way to Los Angeles.

The signs went up on the marquee and on all the doors of the BOK Center, but that wasn't until Thursday afternoon.  The news didn't make it to Jody and Philip Sparks in time.  They didn't find out the show was cancelled until they got to Tulsa, after a two hour drive.

"Right now we're going out to dinner and taking suggestions," said Philip Starks.

Starks' wife, Jody, is a huge Rod Stewart fan, and to make things worse, they had front row, center stage seats.  It was her husband's gift for their anniversary.

"So, we're trying to make the best of it that we can tonight.  We already had the hotel room, paid for, so you might as well make the best of it," said Jody Starks.

The BOK Center Box Office stayed busy answering questions about the cancellation and BOK Center management says more than 7,000 seats were sold.

"It was not for lack of ticket sales.  Tickets were very, very strong for this show," said BOK Center Assistant General Manager Jerry Goldman.

Rod Stewart is the first performer to cancel, rather than postpone, a BOK Center concert.  He's also canceled two concerts this weekend which were to end his current U.S. tour.

"When the entertainers tour around the country, they're in different environment and climates, and they're human, too.  They get sick," said BOK Center Assistant General Manager Jerry Goldman.

The Sparks are disappointed and concerned about getting their money back.  The refunds cover face value only and they paid more than that to get premium seats.

Since it's the end of the tour, there will not be a rescheduled concert.  As for refunds, they'll be available wherever the tickets were sold.

For help, you call the ticket office at 866-726-5287.