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Barricade Collapses At LiveCity
Canadian hardcore band Alexisonfire was only seconds into its performance, which reportedly drew 7,000 fans to the 10,000-capacity David Lam Park, when the weight of the crowd caused the barricade to break.
Fans at the show told the Vancouver Sun the barricade bent and toppled.
“Everyone went crazy and pushed forward,” one concertgoer said. “My friend and I got dropped to the ground and there were people lying on top of us.”
City Manager Penny Ballem said in a statement following the incident that the band and Live Nation acted swiftly to ensure the safety of the crowd.
“Safety at Live City Vancouver is our primary concern, and the response of Live Nation, our producer, was immediate,” Ballem said in a statement. “When the incident occurred, everyone acted quickly, professionally, and took appropriate action. The security and on-site emergency medical response teams provided immediate assistance and care, the band kept people calm, and the crowd dispersed safely.”
The concert was immediately canceled following the incident.
While several injured concertgoers were treated at the scene in the on-site medical facility, nine individuals were taken to the hospital for further assessment, the statement said.
The barricade is set to be replaced and the site reopened for additional scheduled performances during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
A spokesperson for Live Nation did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Click here to read the Vancouver Sun account.
Click here for LiveCity’s complete statement.