Garth Issues Final Statement On Dublin Shows

A final statement on Garth Brooks' troubled run of shows scheduled for Dublin, Ireland was issued Monday. Regarding the planned 5 shows, Garth wrote on his website:

“I have always been advised to NEVER send a message in ‘the moment.’ It is said it is best to take a walk, wait awhile, and think about it. With that said, I just received the news the Dublin City Council cannot change their earlier ruling to not allow the licenses for all five shows. To say I am crushed is an understatement. All I see is my mother’s face and I hear her voice. She always said things happen for a reason and for the right reason. As hard as I try, I cannot see the light on this one. So it is with a broken heart, I announce the ticket refunds for the event will go as posted by TicketMaster. I want to thank the Irish authorities for going the distance for all of us who wanted to share songs and dance together. I really want to thank all the people around the world that continued to think good thoughts that this would actually happen. Most of all, to Peter Aiken and those 400,000 people who believed enough to go through what they have been through to get to this point… I love you, always have, always will. I encourage any and all of them that can come see the show, at some point around the world, to bring your Irish flags and wave them proudly at the concerts. I will be looking for you… garth.”

On Monday, Brooks also announced the city where he will perform the opening date of his much-anticipated comeback tour, though through a slightly different venue. Keeping a promise he made to a fan during a January show in Vegas, Garth first called Andy Roberts in Atlanta to tell the longtime fan that the opening date of the upcoming world tour will be September 4th in Chicago, Illinois. Roberts, After a 10-minute conversation with Brooks, the CEO of a maintenance company took to twitter to tell the world the news.

Brooks didn't specifically tell the married, father of two (with a third on the way) that he would hook him up with tickets for opening night, but he did end the conversation by telling Roberts "we'll see you in Chicago."