A Midget Wrestling Tour event originally scheduled for Thursday in Cape Girardeau has been canceled.

"The reason for this cancellation is that the Midget Wrestling Tour has been banned by the states of Missouri, Kentucky and Nebraska due to their unwillingness to conform" to the state's regulations, said Chris Seib, owner of The Pink Galleon Billiards and Games.

Seib said he booked the group as a comedy act unaware of any athletic licensing requirements.

All customers who bought tickets for the canceled event will receive a refund by bringing their tickets to the Pink Galleon, Seib said. They can also use their voided ticket to gain free entry for this weekend's appearance by the band Tungsten Groove at the Pink Galleon or for any of its Wednesday Night Comedy Club 7 p.m. performances scheduled through the end of the month. Those who purchased tickets online will receive an e-mail with directions on how to obtain a refund.

"The Missouri Office of Athletics has on numerous occasions contacted the tour's promoter and informed them of what steps that they need to take to legally perform their show in Missouri but to no avail," Seib said, adding that the tour "has refused to cooperate with the athletic commission. None of this was known by the Pink Galleon until it was too late to respond to the various issues."

Seib said ticket sales for the event were good and that he had been looking forward to bringing an unusual event to Cape Girardeau.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

2106 William St., Cape Girardeau, MO