Flo Rida free at state fair forces cancelation of DPAO show

Aug. 15—WATERTOWN — The Disabled Persons Action Organization has been forced to cancel its Aug. 24 concert featuring popular rapper Flo Rida following a matter of bad timing and agent scheduling.

On July 1, DPAO announced it had booked Flo Rida, born Tramar Dillard, for an Aug. 24 Concerts for a Cause show at Watertown Fairgrounds.

"A scheduling conflict occurred due to separate agent bookings for the same show," DPAO executive director Michael Campbell said in a news release. "The New York State Fair is hosting Flo Rida only a few days later as a free concert with fair admission, while our event requires ticket pricing to cover the cost of the show." There had been strong ticket sales for the DPAO show. But the math didn't add up for Flo Rida fans: Free at the fair vs. $50-$99 for the Watertown show.

"Interest in our show declined after the State Fair's announcement," Campbell said. "Given the crucial role the concert series provides in supporting programs for individuals with developmental disabilities in two counties, we cannot absorb the financial loss resulting from this overlap."

Flo Rida performs for free at the New York State Fair at 8 p.m. Aug. 29 at Suburban Park.

"We want to emphasize that this issue was not due to any malicious intent by anyone but rather a preventable error in scheduling and at no fault of our own," Campbell said. "We acted in good faith that our contractual agreement would be honored and we are deeply disappointed by this turn of events."

For DPAO Flo Rida ticket holders: online purchases will be refunded. For patrons who purchased tickets at Kinney Drugs, they should visit the DPAO visit our office at 1291 Faichney Drive, Door Entrance D, Watertown, between 9 am and noon or 1:30 pm to 4:30 or call 315-782-0044 for assistance.