Woodstock 50 may have delayed ticket sales due to lack of permit

After spawning rumors of cancellation, Woodstock 50 may have just unveiled the reason as to why the ticket sales date has been pushed back. According to Pitchfork, the festival currently lacks a mass gathering permit.

According to the New York State Department of Health, “No person shall hold or promote, by advertising or otherwise, a mass gathering unless a permit has been issued for the gathering by the permit-issuing official.”

Read more: ‘Captain Marvel’ fan holds record for most times seeing a movie in theaters

Now, as uncovered by Pitchfork, the festival only just applied for the permit as of last Monday, April 15. Without approval of the mass gathering permit, or a conditional permit, tickets are not legally allowed to be sold.

“The health department is reviewing to determine if a conditional permit may be issued that would allow for ticket sales to commence,” administrator of Schuyler County Tim O’Hearn says. “At this point there is no on-sale date set.”

However, according to New York State Department of Health spokesperson Erin Silk, they are currently reviewing the festival’s application. That said, it is undetermined when the permit will acquire approval.

“The Department continues to work closely with the applicant and event promoters to assure that all requirements are met for a mass gathering permit before ticket sales begin,” Silk says.

Despite the delay for ticket sales, founder Michael Lang says the buzz regarding any message of cancellation is only hearsay.

“Woodstock is a phenomenon that for fifty years has drawn attention to its principles and also the rumors that can be attached to that attention,” Lang says.

Additionally, the founder calls the recent talk of cancellation, “just more rumors.”

Read more: Julien Baker responds to Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Julien” in the best way

Recently, the festival lost one of its headliners. A few weeks ago, the Black Keys announced that they would not be performing at the festival due to a “scheduling conflict.”

The Black Keys aside, other headliners this year include Halseythe KillersJay-ZChance The Rapper and Miley Cyrus.

Woodstock’s 50th anniversary festival will also welcome Woodstock-era staples such as Dead & Company, Santana, John Fogerty and Robert Plant And The Sensational Shape Shifters. Additionally, other bands that will definitely ring a bell to scene enthusiasts include Fever 333Bishop BriggsGrandson and Boygenius.

However, despite the impressive lineup, the festival has gotten backlash for their recent shift in genre. Additionally, many folks believe the festival has strayed from its roots and become a cash-grab of sorts.

You can check out the full lineup for this year’s festival here.

What do you think about the permit needed for Woodstock 50? Sound off in the comments below.

See more: See these Riot Fest performers in a different

[envira-gallery id=”185694″]