SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Randy Bachman concert scheduled for Friday night at the Multiplex has been cancelled by the promoter due to exceptionally low ticket sales.

Lynn Fowler, team manager for the Yellowknife Ravens, the city's world-class broomball team, said he was contacted Wednesday morning by concert promoter Garth Mackie and told the show was cancelled. The Ravens were going to receive a portion of the revenue from the show for providing security and bar services.

"He told me he was pulling the plug," Fowler said, saying it was due to a lack of ticket sales. "He had 421 sold of Wednesday morning and he said he needed to sell 1,300 to break even. That's what he told me."

Head Gear sold 352 tickets, according to Fowler, and 20 were sold by broomball players. Brian Laite, manager of Head Gear, said Fowler collected the money Thursday morning and the store would have nothing to do with refunds, contrary to two press releases issued by E1 Music Canada and Paquin Entertainment.

Fowler said they were disappointed by the cancellation and were going to be out $1,500 for expenses, including almost 50 T-shirts made up for volunteer staff.

"We're disappointed. I'm not sure why it didn't sell. It's Bachman-Turner Overdrive," he said.

A press release issued early Thursday morning contained a statement from Bachman, voicing his disappointment about the cancellation. The statement said he hoped to play in Yellowknife in the near future, so he can take care of business the only way he knows how.

The Ravens, defending world champions, are trying to raise money to go to the 2009 Challenge Cup in Austria. Fowler said the loss is tough, but they will rebound.

"We have other ways of fundraising, but this was a good chance to make some money for us," he said. "We can continue on as a team."

Tickets were sold for $60 apiece at Headgear, through broomball players and on the Internet. Ticket holders looking for refunds can do so through Mackie.

In an e-mail to Yellowknifer, Mackie said he would be issuing a press release by days end on Thursday. No press release was received.