Robbie Williams Knebworth
Discussion
OK I wasn't there but I was at the oasis concert and we had no trouble, the same amount of people were expected at the same venue for RW and there is all this aggro! I wasn't there but have been there allbeit a different concert.
Yes it was crowded and close BUT it was a rock concert it is what you have to expect.
Perhaps the powers that be should look into the organisation for RWs show.
Yes it was crowded and close BUT it was a rock concert it is what you have to expect.
Perhaps the powers that be should look into the organisation for RWs show.
Lisa is absolutely correct.. it was horiffic..
I've been to festvals at Reading, Glastonbury, Cheltenham, Finsbury Park (London), Notting Hill (London), Leeds and Nottingham many many times over the last several years.
I've never ever experienced anything as horrific as what I encountered at Knebworth yesterday. The crowds were simply beyond belief. There simply was not enought space made available for the number of people there.
It was inhuman. Pure and simple.
The potential safety implications had me worried and yet I;ve never felt that previously at any of the previous outdoor events I've attended. One day, they'll do this and something will go horribly wrong. If people had felt compelled to move at any sort of pace - a big fight, a firework, a pissed nutter with a blade, whatever. There would have been a stampede. The proximity of the food/drink/retail vendors to the arena of action was insane - congestion was ludicrous.
I spoke to a police sergeant and expressed my concerns. He agreed wholeheartedly that what he saw was unutterably dangerous and yet the police had no jurisdiction until a crime was committed against someone or public order had broken down. God only knows how that didn't happen.
The public liability insurers of this even should seriously consider reviewing cover for the next one and the Stevenage licensing magistrate should also weigh the implications of the veal crate conditions that went on this weekend at Knebworth.
Edit: The trafic didn't phase me really, considering the number attending. What did annoy me was the M25/A1M roundabout disappearing up it's own backside on acount of evidently poor traffic management at South Mimms services. Thankfully, a short burst of driving around all the stationary numpties with impunity sorted that out
I queued for about 5 hours to get from the M4 to the Reading Festival a few years back. Wasn't surprised, wasn't upset. Wasn't quite under the limit by the time we entered the site. Wasn't exactly a danger to society, with an average speed of <2mph over the 5 hours.
>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Sunday 3rd August 19:25
I've been to festvals at Reading, Glastonbury, Cheltenham, Finsbury Park (London), Notting Hill (London), Leeds and Nottingham many many times over the last several years.
I've never ever experienced anything as horrific as what I encountered at Knebworth yesterday. The crowds were simply beyond belief. There simply was not enought space made available for the number of people there.
It was inhuman. Pure and simple.
The potential safety implications had me worried and yet I;ve never felt that previously at any of the previous outdoor events I've attended. One day, they'll do this and something will go horribly wrong. If people had felt compelled to move at any sort of pace - a big fight, a firework, a pissed nutter with a blade, whatever. There would have been a stampede. The proximity of the food/drink/retail vendors to the arena of action was insane - congestion was ludicrous.
I spoke to a police sergeant and expressed my concerns. He agreed wholeheartedly that what he saw was unutterably dangerous and yet the police had no jurisdiction until a crime was committed against someone or public order had broken down. God only knows how that didn't happen.
The public liability insurers of this even should seriously consider reviewing cover for the next one and the Stevenage licensing magistrate should also weigh the implications of the veal crate conditions that went on this weekend at Knebworth.
Edit: The trafic didn't phase me really, considering the number attending. What did annoy me was the M25/A1M roundabout disappearing up it's own backside on acount of evidently poor traffic management at South Mimms services. Thankfully, a short burst of driving around all the stationary numpties with impunity sorted that out
I queued for about 5 hours to get from the M4 to the Reading Festival a few years back. Wasn't surprised, wasn't upset. Wasn't quite under the limit by the time we entered the site. Wasn't exactly a danger to society, with an average speed of <2mph over the 5 hours.
>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Sunday 3rd August 19:25
thing was so many people obviously started to arrive at the same time, logic does mean that would happen. We did get there really early so we didn't experience all the problems poor Mrs Fish had. Maybe it was the fact that roads just were not able to cope with that amount of traffic........
Thats what I am trying to tell you. Something has gone wrong on the organisation somewhere. We never expected to have wided open spaces to sit in. We knew it would be packed but honestly you should have been there to see what I am on about. We at least expected to be able to park our arses somewhere. In the heat of yesterday standing for 3 hours before the concert where you could not move for fear of getting lost or even getting back to your space was unbearable. No walkways were set aside at all, it was wall to wall bodies in the entire space. I would dread to think what would have happened if something had happened towards the front of the stage because there was no space to easily walk through let alone a medic to get there. If we had perservered and only entered the arena at 9pm when RW went on yes we would have heard him but that is about all.
I have to agree with Mrs Fish. The organisation was attrocious. The site was wall to wall packed. At every other concert I have been to, there was always space around the stall to walk. And there should be foir safety reasons. A 46 min round trip to the toilets is unacceptable in any situation. My girl friend needed to get to the first aid tent and it took nearly an hour!!!
I over head a policman at 3am (while I was still stationary in the car park) say that the whole thing was a shambles. The had somone in the Medical Center wo needeed hospital. They were unable to get them out of the site. Farm animals get better treatment than this.
The organisers have a lot to answer for. It is just luck that no one died - I really feel that it was a serious as that. The fact that many left before robbie even came on just shows that the event cannot cope with the number of people there. It may be true that people who didn't get in on friday managed to use the ticket on Saturday. And for that there is no excuse. The organisers have the reponsibility to ensure fans safety - they didn't.
Much as I like Robbie, I will never go to Knebworth again. I do not want to be witness or involved in a "Hillsborough" or "Haysel" disaster. If they continure to organise concerts like that then it is only a mater of time
I over head a policman at 3am (while I was still stationary in the car park) say that the whole thing was a shambles. The had somone in the Medical Center wo needeed hospital. They were unable to get them out of the site. Farm animals get better treatment than this.
The organisers have a lot to answer for. It is just luck that no one died - I really feel that it was a serious as that. The fact that many left before robbie even came on just shows that the event cannot cope with the number of people there. It may be true that people who didn't get in on friday managed to use the ticket on Saturday. And for that there is no excuse. The organisers have the reponsibility to ensure fans safety - they didn't.
Much as I like Robbie, I will never go to Knebworth again. I do not want to be witness or involved in a "Hillsborough" or "Haysel" disaster. If they continure to organise concerts like that then it is only a mater of time
Here here Munta 
Just read this on BBC
>> Edited by mrs fish (moderator) on Sunday 3rd August 20:10
Just read this on BBC
bbc said:
Safety fears at Robbie concert
The tickets for the three gigs sold out in hours
Robbie Williams has received rave reviews for the second of three record-breaking concerts, but fans have complained about chaotic organisation.
It took six hours to clear the car parks at Knebworth Park after his gig on Saturday night.
Some fans also left the venue before Williams appeared on stage because they had fears about overcrowding.
By the end of the weekend, Williams will have played to 375,000 people and his two performances so far have been warmly received. But the first concert on Friday was marred by lengthy traffic jams on the A1 in Hertfordshire.
There were far fewer queues getting in on Saturday, but fans who arrived by car took hours to leave afterwards, and some complained they could not see the stage. Huw Lynd-Evans e-mailed BBC News Online to say: "I have just arrived back home in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, from Saturday's gig at 5.30am - this I expected!
"What I did not expect was not being able to see the stage from inside the venue!
"I'm definitely complaining to the promoters - this is a clear case of greed over common sense.
A Hertfordshire police spokesman said they had spoken to the licensing officer and were happy the number inside the venue did not exceed the 125,000 limit.
One disgruntled fan said although he had entered the venue with no problems, he became concerned about his safety once inside. Tony Nickeas, from Liverpool, said it reminded him of the Hillsborough football stadium disaster.
"There are kids who are coming out upset because they can't see anything at all," he told BBC News 24.
"I spoke to two young girls who actually got knocked over in the crush."
'Shambles'
Another fan, Heather Burfitt, e-mailed to say: "The facilities and management at Knebworth, especially crowd management, were dreadful.
"Three times during the event I feared for our safety."
Terri Lawson left at 1930 BST after the "shambles".
The car parks did not clear until early Sunday morning
She e-mailed: "By 6pm on Saturday night it was clear that there was no way you could even stand 'at the back' and watch on the screens."
But most fans were fulsome in their praise for the man himself. Elizabeth Collinson, from Cambridge, said: "It was one hell of a night on Friday, one of the best, to be part of history was amazing. Well done Rob!"
On Friday the traffic chaos was blamed on poor weather, rush hour traffic and people leaving after work to travel to the concert.
Some fans were forced to listen from the hard shoulder and others spent six hours trying to get out of the car park.
But on Saturday most people arrived on time, because the hard shoulder and inside lane of the A1 were used exclusively for concert-goers.
Roads around Stevenage and Knebworth were closed to prevent concert-goers clogging up local routes.
The last of the three record-breaking concerts takes place on Sunday and organisers will be hoping to iron out many of the problems reported on Friday and Saturday.
>> Edited by mrs fish (moderator) on Sunday 3rd August 20:10
i think, having read all your comments that we were very lucky to escape injury and enjoy the show. we did not get crushed where we were. but obviously it was alot worse elsewhere in the arena. i hope if this is ever repeated that they organise everything alot better. was band Aid that bad at Wembley anyone know??
Firstly, Mrs F / Mrs Carzee: Sorry you didn't get to see RW.
Just wondered one thing: Are concerts at Knebworth run by a single company or is the venue hired out to anyone who wants to perform?
If it's the former, then surely there's no excuse for any chaos. If it's the latter, then perhaps it should be the former (if you follow what I mean). Whilst RW may be setting a record for a three day "concert", there have been sell-out concerts there before without complete chaos. I don't understand what could be different this time.
Sheepy
Just wondered one thing: Are concerts at Knebworth run by a single company or is the venue hired out to anyone who wants to perform?
If it's the former, then surely there's no excuse for any chaos. If it's the latter, then perhaps it should be the former (if you follow what I mean). Whilst RW may be setting a record for a three day "concert", there have been sell-out concerts there before without complete chaos. I don't understand what could be different this time.
Sheepy
Interesting.
I thought Friday's gig had shocking organisation - and it was the lightly attended one in comparison to Saturday clearly.
At Friday's show it was clear to me that late comers (and I mean still three hours to go before the show) would be watching only on the screens at the back. My wife (who is a shortarse) could only see the screen with some difficulty.
Clearly Saturday's concert was worse...and I thought Friday was shockingly bad.
Just as well that RW himself was great. I for one will never attend a Knebworth concert again - if there is to be more than 70000 there on a night. About half the number that were there would have been OK for the venue...
I'm afraid I think that the man himself had an ambition as well as the promoters - and neither he nor they had a full understanding of what it would actually be like.
And "zetec": You were not there. You do not know. Trust me...it was something else...and I've been to some damn big events in my time.
I thought Friday's gig had shocking organisation - and it was the lightly attended one in comparison to Saturday clearly.
At Friday's show it was clear to me that late comers (and I mean still three hours to go before the show) would be watching only on the screens at the back. My wife (who is a shortarse) could only see the screen with some difficulty.
Clearly Saturday's concert was worse...and I thought Friday was shockingly bad.
Just as well that RW himself was great. I for one will never attend a Knebworth concert again - if there is to be more than 70000 there on a night. About half the number that were there would have been OK for the venue...
I'm afraid I think that the man himself had an ambition as well as the promoters - and neither he nor they had a full understanding of what it would actually be like.
And "zetec": You were not there. You do not know. Trust me...it was something else...and I've been to some damn big events in my time.
Don said:
Interesting.
I thought Friday's gig had shocking organisation - and it was the lightly attended one in comparison to Saturday clearly.
At Friday's show it was clear to me that late comers (and I mean still three hours to go before the show) would be watching only on the screens at the back. My wife (who is a shortarse) could only see the screen with some difficulty.
Clearly Saturday's concert was worse...and I thought Friday was shockingly bad.
Just as well that RW himself was great. I for one will never attend a Knebworth concert again - if there is to be more than 70000 there on a night. About half the number that were there would have been OK for the venue...
I'm afraid I think that the man himself had an ambition as well as the promoters - and neither he nor they had a full understanding of what it would actually be like.
And "zetec": You were not there. You do not know. Trust me...it was something else...and I've been to some damn big events in my time.
Couldn't agree more. 70k is about right for a event at Knebworth. And if the promoters were worried about the money, I for one would have happily paid £70 for a ticket to watch Robbie safely and in some relative comfort.
www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/showbiz/articles/6060330?source=Daily%20Mail
When I've finished with their PLI insurers and the Stevenage Licensing Magistrate they'll not be doing it again.
The Daily Mail said:Those fcukers at Metropolic Music (who are ex-directory by all accounts and live at the back of 69 Cavendish Road, London NW5) might have bitten off more than they can chew. No refunds indeed.
Was Robbie worth it?
Robbie Williams fans complained of dangerous overcrowding and shambolic organisation after the star's sell-out concerts at Knebworth over the weekend.
Many said they had been crushed as 125,000 people crammed into the 250-acre site for each of the three nights.
Friday's concert had been blighted by traffic chaos, with cars gridlocked for eight miles and many fans having to listen to the concert from the hard shoulder.
On Saturday, some concertgoers had to queue for six hours to exit the site in Hertfordshire and took until the following morning to arrive home.
Having heard of the traffic problems over the first two days, thousands chose to turn up early yesterday - adding to the problems controlling the massive crowds.
As the gates opened at lunchtime, the crowd surged forward to be near the stage. Around 90,000 people had arrived by 2pm.
Arguments broke out in the crush as people tried to stake their claim to a patch of ground.
Realising they were stuck in the baking heat for the next seven or so hours, tempers flared as people fought through the crowds to buy water and get to the toilets.
The organisers tried to ease the problems by handing out bottles of water and the situation had calmed down by the early evening. Victoria Drosdzowski, 20, from Stoke-on-Trent, said she feared for children who were caught up in the crowds and asked why the organisers did not have marshals.
'It's positively dangerous,' she said. 'There's no one to ask or sort out the problems. We are packed in like sardines and everybody's pushing and shoving.'
Karen Taylor, 53, from London, said she had seen only three policemen and one steward. 'It's so upsetting,' she said. 'There's fighting and arguing.
'Why did the organisers allow so many people in? If I'd known how many tickets were being issued I wouldn't have booked. I'm writing to complain.'
Huw Lynd- Evans, who attended on Saturday, said it took him until 5.30am to get home to Mansfield and he saw little of the concert.
'What I did not expect was not being able to see the stage from inside the venue,' he said. 'This is a clear case of greed over common sense.'
Tony Nickeas, from Liverpool, said: 'Kids are coming out upset because they can't see anything at all. I spoke to two young girls who got knocked over in the crush.'
A spokesman for the promoters Metropolis said: 'A small number of concert-goers have left the site due to the large crowds and the heat. The casualties have been low and mostly due to dehydration. We think the number of people who left the site is quite low considering there are 125,000 people here.'
He said that no refunds would be given. A spokesman for Hertfordshire Police said the traffic problems of the first two nights had eased because fans arrived early. He was unable to say how many officers were on duty but added that it was a 'fair number'.
Despite the massive numbers attending the concerts, Williams's latest single, Something Beautiful, failed to reach number one yesterday.
It entered the charts at number three, with top spot taken by Blu Cantrell with Breathe.
When I've finished with their PLI insurers and the Stevenage Licensing Magistrate they'll not be doing it again.
Metropolis Music
69 Caversham Road
London
NW5 2DR
Private Ltd Company No. 03017281
Incorporated 27/01/1995
Accounts Type : Total Exemption Small
Credit Rating:
1997 Stable (63)
1998 Normal (57)
1999 High Risk (15)
2000 Normal (53)
2001 Secure (82)
Directors:
Mr R.B. Angus, Robert
3 Bowen Court
Highbury Gorge
London
N5 2PE
Mr Angus is also a director of:
THE MCKENZIE GROUP LIMITED
WEMBLEYTV LIMITED
CONCERT PROMOTERS ASSOCIATION LIMITED(THE)
SCRIPTOGRAPH LIMITED
ROSECLAIM LIMITED
CUSTOMBLOCK LIMITED
MAZTEC LIMITED
V 2000 LIMITED
He holds 51 of 100 shares in Metropolis Music Ltd.
Mr P. Hutton, Paul
16 Tyrwhitt Road
Brockley
London
SE4 1QG
Mr Hutton is also a director of:
SCRIPTOGRAPH LIMITED
He holds 25 of 100 shares in Metropolis Music Ltd.
Company Secretary:
Mr G.M. Smith, Glyn
64 Countisbury Avenue
Enfield
Middx
EN1 2NN
Mr Smith is also Company Secretary for:
SCRIPTOGRAPH LIMITED
CUSTOMBLOCK LIMITED
MAZTEC LIMITED
and was previously a director of:
ETFC LTD
He holds no share in Metropolis Music Ltd.
Disappointingly, profit figures have not been included in the report I have. Some more digging could, I'm sure, come up with more info on these characters who'll be refunding our money forthwith.
>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Monday 4th August 11:36
69 Caversham Road
London
NW5 2DR
Private Ltd Company No. 03017281
Incorporated 27/01/1995
Accounts Type : Total Exemption Small
Credit Rating:
1997 Stable (63)
1998 Normal (57)
1999 High Risk (15)
2000 Normal (53)
2001 Secure (82)
Directors:
Mr R.B. Angus, Robert
3 Bowen Court
Highbury Gorge
London
N5 2PE
Mr Angus is also a director of:
THE MCKENZIE GROUP LIMITED
WEMBLEYTV LIMITED
CONCERT PROMOTERS ASSOCIATION LIMITED(THE)
SCRIPTOGRAPH LIMITED
ROSECLAIM LIMITED
CUSTOMBLOCK LIMITED
MAZTEC LIMITED
V 2000 LIMITED
He holds 51 of 100 shares in Metropolis Music Ltd.
Mr P. Hutton, Paul
16 Tyrwhitt Road
Brockley
London
SE4 1QG
Mr Hutton is also a director of:
SCRIPTOGRAPH LIMITED
He holds 25 of 100 shares in Metropolis Music Ltd.
Company Secretary:
Mr G.M. Smith, Glyn
64 Countisbury Avenue
Enfield
Middx
EN1 2NN
Mr Smith is also Company Secretary for:
SCRIPTOGRAPH LIMITED
CUSTOMBLOCK LIMITED
MAZTEC LIMITED
and was previously a director of:
ETFC LTD
He holds no share in Metropolis Music Ltd.
Disappointingly, profit figures have not been included in the report I have. Some more digging could, I'm sure, come up with more info on these characters who'll be refunding our money forthwith.
>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Monday 4th August 11:36
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