Last Updated: Friday, January 08, 2010 Two Ozzfest Fans Die At PNC Bank Arts Center Updated: Monday, August 20, 2007 After two deaths, New Jersey authorities pledge to clean-up PNC Bank Arts Center parking lots. Photo: No attribution The Ozzfest 2007 festival stop at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey (August 16), ended in tragedy with two deaths and 83 arrests. Fifty-nine of those arrested were underage drinkers, say law enforcement authorities. The US festival tour is promoted by Live Nation. The outdoor amphitheater is also managed by Live Nation. The venue is owned by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. The two victims were male concertgoers in their twenties. Their deaths are thought to have been the result of drug overdoses, but this conjecture at this point. Authorities also theorize that the drugs were consumed in the venue’s parking lot during the festival. The victims are not thought to have known each other. One of the concertgoers took ill in a venue parking lot while the other victim was given medical care inside the amphitheater, according to a WABC-TV story. Joe Orlando of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority told the television station the consumption of alcohol in the venue’s parking lot is allowed by the state. It is not known if Live Nation objected to this policy. At the PNC Bank Arts Center parking lots, alcohol consumption has been a major problem but state authorities and Live Nation have apparently not chosen to address the problem in a comprehensive manner. Live Nation told reporters that the state, not the venue operator, has jurisdiction over the parking areas. Nationwide, the tolerance of parking lot imbibing before a show has created and perpetuated an environment for excessive alcohol and drug consumption, violence, and especially underage drinking. Crowd Management Strategies, Inc., has long been a critic of venue operators and local authorities that allow or tolerate these unsafe and illegal activities. The situation is problematic not just from a social standpoint, but from an event crowd safety perspective. Segments of crowds that are under the influence become more difficult to manage and more agressive. As a result of the two deaths, New Jersey authorities say things will be different now. “Alcohol is going to be banned completely in the parking lot at the [PNC Bank] Arts Center,” Mr. Orlando told CBS News. Mr. Orlando had criticism for Live Nation. “[Ozzfest] was especially [disconcerting] because 38,000 tickets were made available for free,” the spokesperson told CBS News. “The Arts Center itself can handle about 17,000.” [ home ][ crowdcafe ][ new ][ crowdshop ][ contact ] Crowd Management Strategies © 1997 - 2006. All rights reserved. Crowdsafe is a registered trademark of Crowd Management Strategies © 2006.