I was lucky enough to be on the front left of the stage with my girlfriend, rather than the center. A lot of unfortunate people tonight. Way too many folks in there, way too many inebriated people, and that barricade couldn't have been built that well. Either way, pretty awful that a good deal of people had to get hurt.  

The fans were all wearing black bandanas soaked in apple cider vinegar on their faces and the VISU had to pull out the automatic rifles and threaten to shoot them is they did not disperse.  

5 Days in and I can see the downtown crowds are starting to get drunk and ugly. Not as happy-feely as last weekend. They are packing way too many people into these venues. 

@dthorne, I don't want to hypothesize on exactly what went wrong. It's a little early for that. But I don't think the problem was too many people. LiveCity Yaletown is a big venue and when Alexisonfire took the stage, there was still a lot of room at the very back.

And as for inebriated people, it's a dry venue that people had to stand in line for an hour for just to get in to (plenty of time to sober up). 

This is a bloody outrage. I am a professional producer with 20 years experience in Rock Concert productions and I have been fully trained in crowd control dynamics by EPP in the UK. What the hell is going on with the organisation. This was not a professional Mojo crowd control barrier, whoever advanced the production for this show should be hung out to dry. This is shocking and you guys are so lucky that someone was not killed. The H&S standards here are woefull. Waken up Vancouver you are embarrassing yourself.  

Fair enough Travis. That was my first concert there, so I can't completely be sure of anything.

I realized it was a dry venue. Just seemed like an awful lot of people were under the influence tonight.

I guess overall I'm just really disappointed in everything that went down tonight. I'm really glad on how most people handled it, really glad on how George, Dallas (carrying a girl out), and the rest of the band handled it. Still disappointing to hear people boo, yell bullshit at a time like that.

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it.  

I think everyone genuinely felt bad about the situation. I was surprised that the crowd dispersed so peacefully, things could have been way worse and there was no rioting or chaos on the street after, people just left.

I don't mean to point fingers but I can't understand how this happened. In my 25 years of going to rock shows, very large ones with crowds much larger than this show, I have never witnessed barricades coming down, bending or breaking like this.... they are there to suppress crowd surges.

I am so glad that no one was killed - could have been WAY worse.

 

LiveCity Yaletown can accommodate up to 8500 people, including staff and security. This is strictly enforced with the numbers being counted as people go through the security lines.  

I guess I assumed there were too many people in the crowd. Oops.  

Kudos to volunteers and on-site personnel for controlling what could have turned into a bad situation. we were on-site and while I don't think the venue was over crowded, I do agree that a lot of alcohol was consumed in the long line up to get in & very little police presence was felt in the line. It might have helped to turn away some of these very drunk young men before they got in and caused this incident. An unfortunate situation to blemish our games. 

point is,as a fan, Alexisonfire is a hardcore band and should have never been playing at a free community event.
there was not enough strong security in front of the barriers like there are at other hardcore shows, as well as the barriers themselves were weak in comparison  

I think that they need to make the livecity venue larger i was in line when it got shut down and there must have been another 20 thousand people waiting to get in, it was getting very violent outside cause the fact that the security officers told us they would let us all in and it gave people false hopes which only made everyone more angry, Vancouver we are making fools out of are selves, the people who were in charge of setting up the show really messed up. Alexisonfire is a well known band throw in no need to pay to see them and you are going to get what happened tonight. this is only going to happen again when Deadmau5 comes this coming Friday...

Props to Alexisonfire for being able to keep the crowd peaceful. They did the right thing tonight by shutting down the show. 

From what I seen last night at the Matisyahu show the barriers they used have NO business at ANY concert unless its at some county fair in the middle of no where. the band and Crew acted quick and properly, I was kind of upset until I realized people were hurt quite bad. These kids just need to grow up. 

just to clarify when I said the kids needed to grow up, i didn't mean the ones pushing and shoving, i mean it comes wit the territory of that style of music, i meant the ones yelling obscenities and booing, classless jerks. Padsock is right, all they used is portable galvanized fencing, or something along the lines of it... nothing strong AT all 

It's as if this Olympics is cursed. Maybe karma is kicking our ass and we deserve it for allowing the misery to pile up: the DTES, Pickton, the cuts to education, health, arts and social services. Maybe we need to think about our priorities, putting people first. They're already calling it the Worst Olympics Ever. 

I was there. The crowd was pretty calm for a punk/hardcore show. The rush to the stage was pretty typical of an alexis show. Everyone wants to be closer to see Dallas and the boys. The way the venue is, theres a bit of a downhill slope toards the barrier. I wouldnt be surprised if this contributed to the incident. Its a sad thing that the band only played 15sec and all those people got trampled. If there is anyone to blame its the venue organizers for poor crowd control. Like i said, a calm crowd, mostly young 20's, plenty of girls and a handful of mildly drunk attendees. 

As someone who was in the crowd (and someone who carried a girl with a fractured? leg out of the pit) all I can say is that this should not have happened.

It doesn't matter that Alexisonfire is a hardcore band or that it was a free community event or that there were people drinking or that maybe the barriers/security might not have been up code. I have been to so many shows with intoxicated crowds and "hardcore" bands where shit has not gotten out of hand like this. If I was to blame anyone, it would be the crowd but not because they were drinking; something has clearly changed in the whole mob mentality of being at a show since the last one I've been to.

What happened to the unspoken courtesy of concerts? If someone falls in the pit, you stop and help them back up; you don't plow through and knock over everyone in front of you ten seconds after the band takes the stage. You're supposed to have each other's back. It's about having fun and having a good time, something that can't be done if you're on the ground under a pile of people with your legs being fractured.

It wasn't fair to that girl I carried out of there tonight (while most people stood around watching instead of running to get help or clearing the way, I might add) and it wasn't fair to the rest of us who just wanted to go out and have a good time. No matter how many elbows I get to the back of the head or bruises I wake up with in the morning, it's always worth it because I'm seeing a band I love. This was just fucking dumb, ten seconds of intro music isn't fun and it isn't what we were there to see. Let's get our shit together guys, we're all there for the same reason.  

I JUST got home from the hospital, guys (I ended up with a broken foot and some crutches >.<). I met the most amazing and courageous girl in the ambulance and people at the VGH too, that got injured. I just want to say, I want to thank everyone that helped me and the others. The band was awesome and came to make sure we were all okay in the medical tent. The barrier definitely seemed solid to me at first; I've been to a fair number of metal shows and know what to expect, but this was frightening and I hope there is a better barricade next time... 

Seroiusly, the people at the gig really needed to give the guys a break. I understand that people will have queued up to see them, but what about all the people that got hurt? are you going to risk people dying just to see a show? AOF did the right thing by stopping the show you can tell that its the last thing they wanted to do- playing at the olympics had to be a massive thing for them; hence why George is so apologetic. 

Just to be certain - Live City Yaletown is a City of Vancouver site not VANOC so let's blame the Mayor and his people and be thankful it doesn't appear that anyone was seriously injured.
Meanwhile BC Place was rocking with the Bare Naked Ladies 

60 minutes in line is plenty of time to sober up...or get drunk. Have you seen the number of empty beer cans/bottles strewn about the Livecity line ups? Hell, I've seen a few empty bottles of whiskey.  

Padsock is 100% right. I have been doing concerts for almost 10 years and it is common place to have two different types of barricade, the concert style crowd control barriers are a safety necessity for any large concert (let alone a band like Alexisonfire) in front of the stage. The more common “bike rack” or “pedestrian” fencing is often used in front of the stage and can easily be bent or broken, which happened here. At the end of the day the promoter, facility or even the road manager for the band should have identified this as an issue. Concert goers can get rowdy but it is the responsibility of those producing the show to ensure their saftey. 

nothing really got rushed, there was jumping and excitment and then people fell over, it just happened that the pit is on a significant slant and the barrier is a temperary steal fence. Yes people where intoxicated but thats to be expected, im sure if on eor 2 ppl fell down they would have been helped up (i fell a few times and i was imedaitly grabbed up) but it was an unstoppable dominoe effect, its unfortunate but im pretty proud of the crowd for not getting out of control, there where people from white rock who had been there since 11 waiting just for alexisonfire. So of course they were angry, but we left considerably peacefully with nothing more then some yelling. We sang Oh Canada in stead of booing, In the end everyone was angry, but th more important thing was ppl were hurt, there wasnt a bad vibe, it was just
"ohcrap someones hurt? damnit its over"
Shit happens, oh well we can't go around blaming people for being to rowdy or anything like that, when it happened it was unstoppable

 

That's what happens when you have Americans and foreigners in Vancouver. 

people where under the influence. they were drinking while in line thats why so many people were drunk 

In every great rock show there is always that RUSH to the front when the show starts. I've been to MANY concerts.. I have never felt a force come so HARD and FAST like that. I watched in horror as people fell down and got trampled. My friends and I got so squished in the forth row for like 6 seconds I couldn't even breath. It was dangerous the fans are just as much to blame as the people who organized this event

Even if the barricade hadn't broken people still would have been injured. In fact I'm pretty sure internal bleeding would have happened just from people getting crushed up against the fence. I love the raw energy that you feel when ever you go to the show of thousands of passionate fans. I'm sorry to those who waited in line and didn't get in. but seriously all those who pushed last night... really need to think about the repercussions they caused.

Also live city needs to put a MUCH SMALLER limit on the people aloud in. No false advertising like " everyones gonna get in don't worry" no wonder you had people rioting in anger! Perhaps booze shouldn't be sold at these shows either.. because when your intoxicated your less likely to think and act quick in a event something does go horribly wrong like this.
liquor may have been a small reason why the fans acted so rowdy. Really though I think it was just a matter of too many people packed in.

I am grateful and thankful for all the free shows the olympics have brought... however, We are SO lucky no one got killed last night. Stuff like this shouldn't be happening if you are going to put the citizens of our city in fucking danger. DO NOT PUT ON A FREE SHOW.
it's not worth losing a life over.

To all of those who got hurt and severely injured I wish you all the best to getting better and am so sorry you all had to experience such bullshit,  

I really want to take away the blame that everyone is pushing on this event being all ages and those that may have drank too much. Let's face it, for all concert go-ers, especially those above the drinking age, can admit that a) they have been to a large venue concert (ie. Warped Tour, Taste of Chaos, etc.) and b) they've gone to a beer garden during a show and probably at some point or another had too much to drink. The fault of this horrible event relies solely on the hands of those that coordinated the event. They tried their best in making it a dry venue and they should have been aware that asking a hardcore band to play a free event would cause problems. Has no one ever heard of a mosh pit? If you put crappy barricades up, they are going to come down, especially with the weight of 500+ people on it. So please, stop blaming it on drunk people or that it shouldn't be all ages or what have you. A concert is not a new thing to happen, nor is one that plays harder music where there is going to be jumping around. I just hope that whoever directed this event realises that now and is counting their lucky stars that no one got killed.  

One more thing... to all those people saying that they've never been to a show where the force was this great or there were too many people in the venue I'd really like to know what other concerts you've been to. Yes, there were a lot of people at the event, but not every single person was pushed towards the stage. I was in the crowd facing the main stage and I was not crammed or anything. It was like any other "hardcore" show that I've been to. The force was like any other concert I've been to. People like Alexisonfire and people are passionate when it comes to music. No one is going to stand there and not move around or dance or whatever when they're watching one of their favourite bands. If thats the case, you've been to way too many Fleetwood Mac concerts (no offence to the band). As for the amount of people, the grounds where the concert was held was large enough to accomodate such a crowd. It wasn't packed to the brim and there was room to walk around. In fact, it was probably one of the most courteous shows I've ever been to. There was an overall good vibe to the entire thing. It boils down to this...
1. Crappy barricades
2. The stage was at the bottom of a slant that the crowd was standing on and therefore everyone just fell.
In the end, it was just poor planning. So please stop blaming everyone else that showed up to the show. Everyone just wanted to have a good time and that was apparent to everyone there.

 

Typical BC bullshit. Poorly organized. Let the finger pointing begin. 

THIS CITY IS HAUUUBTNNNNNNTEADDDDDDDDD MY GHOWOWOWOWWSSTTS BLAH BLAH BLAG BLAHHHHHH BLAHHHHH.
30 seconds is 29 seconds too long for that band playing. 

I was one of the people at the front of the crowd right up against the baracade. Before the show had even started, approximatley 2 Hours before Alexisonfire was to hit the stage, the pushing had begun. I was so tight against this baracade that i had bruises in the shape of the design on the baracade. I had crowd surfers kicking me in the face, I had my face hit into the top of the baracade and am now feeling back pain due to the amount of people pushing. I think it got a little out of hand and crazy. When the baracade feel I was at the bottom with everyone falling ontop of me, with me lying on the Baracade. I wish this didnt happen because I was really looking forward to hearing Alexisonfire live for the first time. 

Must have been undercover RCMP inciting yet another riot and causing damage.
I enjoy Alexisonfire on a somewhat limited basis (meaning that I enjoy it in small doses)...its a real shame that people can't enjoy themselves without getting drunk and/or high. A concert is supposed to be about the music...you wanna get 3 sheets to the wind and listen to some tunes and wreck everyone elses goodtime? Do it at home.
What a disgrace...seriously. 

Why are so many people assuming alcohol was a determining factor in this incident?

LiveCity Yaletown is a dry venue. And the act of pushing does not require an individual to be intoxicated. Pushing can happen sober. 

When we were leaving the venue, you could see alchohol bottles on the floor, I tripped over a micky of Tequila on the floor when i was leaving. so alchohal did manage to get into the site. 

Something happened that was less than the ideal.
I'm outraged.
I'm appalled.
I demand an apology.
I demand a head on a platter.
I demand vengence.
I demand.

I'm sorry, what was that? Think before you whine, there are people a lot worse off than you.  

I was one of the people who was hurt and ended up in the hospital as I was in the front row against the fence. I have been to many concerts that range from the Rolling Stones to Lamb of God and pretty much every show has the same type of fence. There must have been something wrong with the construction of it. This isn't the fans fault. I thank the band for being so caring and helpful. Although I am in serve pain, bruised and swollen no one was killed and that is what matters. This had nothing to do with it being a free event or people being drunk. Stuff like this happens, although it shouldnt. I am not angry or upset from being really hurt at all nor should the rest of the public be who wasnt even there or hurt. We are all alive, alexisonfire rocks... pretty sure that is what matters. 

Honestly, stop addressing all your problems to "Vancouver," cause nobody knows who you're talking to.

The problems people are talking about should be addressed to "The organizers" or "Vanoc" or the "VPD" but generalizing your anger/disappointment to "Vancouver" doesn't really say anything. When people say, "Vancouver, stop embarrassing yourself." WHAT does that really mean? Are you addressing the citizens of Vancouver? Cause as a citizen of the city, it's not like I personally knew before hand all the tips and tricks to concert crowd control.

 

As someone who has also produced concert tours and events around the world, I want to associate myself with Padsock's remarks above. I find it inexcusable that nineteen young people were injured - nine hospitalized, two with broken legs, and a number with serious lacerations. All responsible promoters know how to ensure crowd safety - it's always the first concern because these kinds of accidents are not uncommon at all. To the contrary. The city should immediately apologize to the young people and their families who are here as guests of our city, and launch a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure no other innocent visitors are injured going forward.

And to those looking to blame the victims, this was a dry venue as Padsock points out, and the crowd sang the national anthem before quietly emptying the enclosure in fifteen minutes in an extremely quiet and orderly fashion. This was not an unruly mob.

Instead of issuing empty reassurances, the city must apologize profusely to the kids and their families, and hold a full and thorough independent investigation of what happened to hold the vendor responsible and ensure the rest of the Games are not marred by a repeat.  

You know theres going to be a mosh right when the music started so either you get out of the way or you embrace it and not fall on your ass, I was right up at the front and I just still cant believe the show didn't happen/ 

Definitely the fault of the organizers. I was at Warped Tour when they played, and there was a shitload of more people. Alexisonfire was for sure the highlight of the day, so I think it was the organizers fault for not realizing the type of security/barriers they needed. Yeah the audience was rowdy, but honestly, what did they expect from Alexisonfire fans?