Nijisanji fans, who were looking forward to the "Summer Jam" and "Welcome to Wonder Wander World" concerts scheduled for July 6-7 at Anime Expo, received disappointing news earlier this week. A tweet from Nijisanji’s official X account announced that: “Recent developments have made it clear that creating the optimal environment for an unforgettable experience for our fans and our Livers is no longer feasible”
This was followed by links to each concert's message to fans, stating once again that the events were being canceled. They assured fans who had purchased tickets that they would receive a full refund, with details on how to obtain it to be announced on the official X account and website later. Additionally, the concerts will be available online for free for fans to enjoy later.
Nijisanji did not elaborate further on what they meant by the "optimal environment," but they did state that both Nijisanji booths (E-65 and E-70) will remain open during Anime Expo for fans to purchase merchandise. They are also working on special perks for those who purchased tickets.
[Important Update Regarding NIJISANJI EN SUMMER JAM and “Welcome to Wonder Wander World” Concert in L.A.]
— NIJISANJI EN Official (@NIJISANJI_World) June 25, 2024
This is an important update regarding the NIJISANJI EN SUMMER JAM and “Welcome to Wonder Wander World” Concert in L.A., originally scheduled for July 6-7 at the Peacock…
As soon as this news was released, many Nijisanji fans voiced their concerns, stating that the timing, just one week before Anime Expo, was unacceptable. Even if fans obtain refunds for their concert tickets, they will still incur costs for hotels, flights, and Anime Expo tickets (which were necessary to purchase the concert tickets). This situation is particularly inconvenient for those who do not live locally, especially those traveling from abroad.
When you break things down, a round-trip plane ticket can range from $300 to $1300. Hotels can range from $100 to $400 a night depending on the accommodations, and the Anime Expo badge costs between $75 and $165, depending on the bundle purchased.
Many fans expressed frustration that this announcement came just one week before the convention; however, a few fans were understanding. They stated that they felt Nijisanji was doing the right thing by canceling the concerts to prevent potential harm from non-Nijisanji fans. Yet, other fans questioned the decision, asking, "Why cancel the concerts but leave the booths open if it was for the safety of fans?"
Some even had screenshots of the venue showing how many seats were sold and pointed to this as a possible reason they canceled the concerts. The numbers suggested only about 10% of the venue tickets were sold, which would create a negative image for their Livers concert sales. Others went further into the financial side of things. Canceling the Nijisanji event still likely incurred fees for breaking the contract with the venue, the Peacock Theater.
The bottom line is that fans were blindsided by this sudden news. While Nijisanji mentioned compensating fans in other ways, this incident adds to their record of disappointments. Despite Nijisanji's assurance that the concerts would be available online for free, many fans felt they deserved more. They want answers and additional compensation. This isn't the first time Nijisanji has canceled or delayed live events. Earlier this year, they aired their AR live Colors concert, which was postponed in 2023 due to Covid and other issues, disappointing many fans. The question now is how the fanbase will react. Will they be understanding or will they turn to other Vtuber talents elsewhere?