This Ain't A Love Song: Browns Cancel Kick Off Concert At Bon Jovi's Behest Amid Low Sales

The Browns canceled next month’s “Fan Kickoff Concert” at FirstEnergy Stadium due to weak ticket sales for a show headlined by Bon Jovi, according to industry sources. The Browns pulled the plug on the event at the request of Jon Bon Jovi, the band’s front man. “JBJ isn’t going to play in front of a half-empty stadium,” one source said. “It wasn’t a good situation for him.” The Browns announced the concert three weeks ago. Tickets went on sale June 3 and were priced as low as $9.50. The average ticket price was $70. The event was to include a two-hour fan festival before the concert. Michael Stanley and the Resonators, a local band, had been booked as the opening act (Don Muret, Staff Writer). Browns VP/Media Relations Neal Gulkis said that the event was to have included the Fan Fest and a "huge pep rally between the performances” of the two bands. Gulkis added that the cancelation "won't sour the Browns on the possibility of future concerts and other events" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 6/18).