HARTFORD, CT — Connecticut Attorney General William Tong revealed on Thursday that a settlement has been reached with Capulet Entertainment and its owner Estevan Vega, following the unfortunate collapse of the eagerly awaited Capulet Fest 2024 music festival. The settlement provides for up to $50,000 in consumer refunds for fans who found themselves stranded after the event was suddenly relocated and partially canceled.
Initially planned for June 28-30, 2024, at the Thompson Motor Speedway, Capulet Fest had promised three days filled with live music from over 50 bands, along with food trucks and camping options. Ticket holders had invested as much as $700 for full access, with many also arranging accommodations and travel plans.
Just one day prior to the festival’s commencement, organizers shifted the event over 50 miles to the significantly smaller, indoor Webster Theater in Hartford. This last-minute change caused many headline bands to withdraw, and the entire third day of the festival was canceled. These sudden alterations resulted in a surge of complaints from attendees, prompting an immediate investigation by the Office of the Attorney General.
“Vega and Capulet made major promises they couldn’t deliver, and the failure of Capulet Fest 2024 drove Vega into bankruptcy,” said Attorney General Tong. “This investigation has always been about two things—making sure this never happens again and getting refunds to fans.”
Under the settlement, Vega’s attorney will administer a $50,000 restitution fund to issue full refunds to Connecticut consumers for unused admission tickets, parking, and camping fees. Refund requests can be submitted in writing to:
- Mark A. Balaban, Esq.
- The Balaban & Raczka Law Firm
- 425 Main Street, 4th Floor, Middletown, CT 06457
Consumers might also qualify for restitution via a distinct private class action that is still in progress.
Additionally, the agreement places new limitations on Vega and Capulet Entertainment. For the upcoming five years, they are prohibited from organizing any music festival unless they first obtain a performance bond to safeguard ticket holders in case of cancellation. They are also required to make reasonable efforts to secure commitments from performers and vendors prior to promoting any future events.
Should Capulet and Vega adhere fully to the settlement terms throughout the five-year duration, a civil penalty of $25,000 to the state will be put on hold.
“This settlement squeezes every possible dollar out of Capulet and Vega to return to fans,” Tong said. “And if they screw up again, you better believe we’ll come down on them like a ton of bricks.”
