Last Wednesday, thousands of fans gathered in Colorado at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre for Louis Tomlinson's concert.
The weather is always something to watch at an outdoor venue, but most Coloradoans are used to a little rain. When the sky became cloudy and even some thunder rumbled overhead, the customers and the venue were not phased.
But when the staff at Red Rocks realized the intensity of the storm rolling in, they cancelled the concert. But in reality, they had only given their customers two minutes to exit the arena and return to their cars before being pelted with golfball-sized hail.
Approximately 100 people were injured in the rush to safety.
Some had minor cuts and bruises, while others survived with severe welts and abrasions from the hail's contact with bare skin. Some people were trampled in the panic, including children.
The artist was apologetic about the event.
Fans consoled Tomlinson and hoped to catch him at his next show.
But many attendees took issue with their treatment at the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre.
There were many accounts that pointed to the Red Rocks Park staff and their alleged preventing customers from entering venues to seek cover, while instead laughing in their faces and recording videos of their turmoil.
There were also questions regarding the venue's weather-related precautions and how prepared they were for an event like this. Some noticed the signs of bad weather coming and stated they were only given a two-minute warning before the hail began to fall.
Others noted the stage crew was already been packing up the music equipment long before customers were given a warning, suggesting that the venue could have provided better care for their customers.
i sincerely cannot wrap my head around the fact that you didn’t postpone the show earlier. what even is your safety protocols for weather? don’t you have someone looking after that? literal water parks in this state have a better lightning protocol than yall and it’s indoor…
— Ashe (@ashescampfire) June 22, 2023
crazy how they started packing up the drums and the stage before announcing the extreme weather to the audience.
— jake (@j4kemcgowan) June 22, 2023
I was getting pelted on the head with hail and a @RedRocksCO employee denied me shelter in a restricted area. If there was ever a time to protect guests, tonight was it. Very disappointing the way the park handled tonight’s inclement weather.
— nicole ☮️ (@nikkiiholcombb) June 22, 2023
9:04 coming in right over the amphitheater - why did you wait so long? pic.twitter.com/EvuW4ApNrN
— j howe 📸 (@howe_howell) June 22, 2023
No excuse for not canceling it before the hail. People were seriously injured, little kids were getting trampled. No excuse @RedRocksCO
— Kaitlyn Graham (@kgthecrazy22) June 22, 2023
Your staff locked people out of their areas during the storm. They were recording people getting hurt and laughing. Several people were injured, some severely. Their injuries have been recorded and people have video of your staff doing this. Hopefully you have good insurance 😉
— Lisa Manning (@LisaMannin97885) June 22, 2023
you should worry about your staff who are laughing and recording fans who are trying to get to safety.
— — marris / amari (@skepshaloity) June 22, 2023
your staff sat there watching my 9 year old sister, my mom, and me get pounded by golf sized hail and heard us begging for them to let us into the concession and yet all they did was record us
— Kay !¡ (@thelastlwt) June 22, 2023
There were multiple accounts online from injured and traumatized fans.
Some shared video of their experience.
it was awful to experience… pic.twitter.com/0Jmy9S2ZnB
— 𝒿𝒶𝓏𝓂𝒾𝓃 🍋 (@jazzerrae) June 22, 2023
Another showed cuts on their hands after reaching their car.
absolutely ridiculous pic.twitter.com/1rpvIcoeo8
— mae survived red rocks (@MyLoveLoueh) June 22, 2023
Others shared the wounds they had from being pelted by hail.
Address this - pic.twitter.com/oTr8MmtzYl
— Elle -Peas and All this Time 💙💚 🏳️🌈 (@4theluvoflarry) June 22, 2023
Thanks for my legs being so beat up that I can’t even walk. Also there welts all over my hands, head and arms and back. Love that they don’t care about the people paying money. Got stuck in the storm lost my group and hid under trees😭😭 pic.twitter.com/8xRxXuoGTP
— kailea anaya (@KaileaAnaya) June 22, 2023
It's unclear at this time if the event will be rescheduled at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre or if any refunds will be issued.
But as long as people question the venue's ability to address weather concerns and help people reach safety, fans might not be too interested in coming back for a second try.