New Springfield Comedy Club to Replace Blue Room and Honor Canceled Show Tickets

A new comedy club is stepping in to fill the void left by Springfield’s now-closed Blue Room Comedy Club, which shut its doors amid multiple investigations into customer complaints. The new venue, called the Springfield Comedy Club, will be operated by BARK Entertainment, a company that already runs comedy clubs across five states. The new spot is set to open its doors on December 12, 2025, in the same building previously occupied by the Blue Room.

One of the first acts on the calendar will be comedian Matt McCusker, who was originally scheduled to perform at the Blue Room on December 12 and 13 before those shows were abruptly canceled. Many customers accused the Blue Room of refusing refunds for those dates, sparking outrage and online complaints. But according to Adam Norwest, the owner of BARK Entertainment, the new management plans to honor all valid tickets from those canceled shows.

“The first weekend, we have Matt McCusker, who has a couple hundred tickets sold,” Norwest said. “We’re going to honor those tickets. And we’re going to put something out on our website next week to let people know—if you had tickets that weren’t honored, send us your information.” He added that the company is working to compensate other customers who may have lost money under the Blue Room’s previous ownership.

BARK Entertainment is no stranger to the comedy scene. The company currently operates successful clubs in several cities, including Spokane and Tacoma, Washington. Norwest himself has been involved in comedy venue management for years, and his group has built a reputation for running professional, performer-friendly spaces. The company’s expansion into Springfield signals a fresh start for the local comedy community, which has been shaken by months of controversy surrounding the Blue Room.

The Blue Room Comedy Club had been a staple in Springfield’s entertainment scene since 2016, located at 420 W. College Street. However, in recent months it faced increasing criticism from both customers and comedians. Touring acts accused the venue of non-payment, while customers claimed their refund requests were ignored for canceled shows—some going back several years. The situation escalated when comedians began publicly blacklisting the Blue Room on social media.

In October 2025, comedian Heather Shaw urged fans to request refunds for her canceled Blue Room shows, and McCusker himself confirmed online that the venue was “going out of business.” Multiple complaints were reportedly filed, and the club became the focus of several ongoing investigations into consumer refund practices.

When asked for comment, the owner of the Blue Room did not respond to reporters. In October, he had claimed that he was assembling a team to process refunds, but as of early November, it remains unclear whether any of those refunds have actually been issued.

The launch of the new Springfield Comedy Club offers hope for both performers and audiences who still want live comedy in downtown Springfield. BARK Entertainment says its new official website—expected to go live within the week—will provide clear information on ticket transfers and refund submissions.

For now, fans can mark their calendars for December 12, when the laughter returns to Springfield with the grand opening of the city’s newest comedy venue.