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[UPDATE: Scott O’Donnell, the VP of Festivals for Live Nation’s House of Blues Entertainment, released the following statement on behalf of the company:

Rather than rush a major festival and change sites, we are taking 2013 off to evaluate all our options for creating the best possible experience for our fans. We appreciate all the support we’ve gotten from everyone over the past 10 years.

The following is our original story on the festival’s cancellation.]

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The Bamboozle Festival is cancelled for 2013, according to a message on the event’s Facebook page.

“We are sad to announce we will miss all of you in 2013 but keep your eyes peeled for 2014 info,” the message reads.

Bamboozle was born in Asbury Park in 2003. It took place in venues on and around the boardwalk for several years before moving to the Meadowlands Arena in 2006. This year, Bamboozle returned to the Asbury Park boardwalk for its 10th anniversary.

It was announced in October that Bamboozle would not return to Asbury Park for its 2013 show.

“They’re making an economic decision to try another site for 2013,” city manager Terence Reidy said at the time. “[Concert promoter Live Nation] is still going to work with the city [on other events], but for Bamboozle they’re looking elsewhere.”

Now, is appears the festival is not going anywhere in 2013.

The city made $200,000 from the three-day festival, which took place on May 18, 19 and 20.

The festival was brought to the city last year as a result of the city and Madison Marquette’s desire to bring a concert to the beach, Reidy said. “It was a lot more informal and then it grew into a conversation about Bamboozle.”

BAMBOOZLE AND THE BOARDWALK

Live Nation built the largest stage ever to be constructed on a boardwalk for the concert in May and days before the festival, their workers and city department of public works [DPW] workers reinforced the north end of the boardwalk with a mixture of sand and concrete.

Following Hurricane Sandy, many couldn’t help but notice that that portion of the boardwalk stood untouched while the southern end was torn apart by the storm. City resident Pam Lamberton asked the council about it at last night’s meeting.

“Isn’t the piece of the boardwalk that seemed to survive the piece that was reinforced by and for Bamboozle?” Lamberton said. “If it is, I’m really disappointed Bamboozle is not coming back to the city.”

“They’re not even happening,” Deputy Mayor John G. Loffredo said. “They’re not going anywhere.”

Reidy confirmed the reinforced part of the boardwalk was still standing, and also pointed out that the reinforcement was partially funded by a state grant. The New Jersey Department of Transportation grant helped offset the reinforcement, which enabled 40,000 people to stand shoulder-to-shoulder on the boards. He also confirmed the festival is cancelled for next year.

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