New court filings have disclosed more information on the tragedy that took place at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival, where 10 concertgoers lost their lives. It has been claimed that the festival organisers were warned about potential overcrowding issues even before the event started. It includes a warning from the head of safety for Astroworld, Seyth Boardman, who raised concerns over the number of people that could be close to the stage. The warnings were conveyed ten days before the festival.
This revelation is part of the amended court papers submitted by lawyers for families of those killed and the others affected by the tragedy as part of mass civil litigation filed against the music festival’s organisers. As per the BBC report, the documents suggest that the fire safety code allowed for five square feet per person, which was two feet less than the actual number, and this contributed to the presence of around 50,000 people crammed into a space for only 34,500.
Other court documents have revealed that organisers of Astroworld had concerns about gatecrashers amid warnings that “we are going to be absolutely screwed when the sun goes down.” In addition, it has been alleged that the issue was amplified by security lapses and the organisers’ failure to monitor the crowd for potential signs of a crush.
The hearing for the civil case is due to commence in May, with the defendants including the concert company Live Nation Entertainment and venue manager ASM. Rapper Travis Scott, who was one of the festival’s organisers, is also a defendant in the case. Following the tragic incident, Scott expressed his devastation and, in November, revealed that he would “always think about it.” However, Scott was cleared of criminal charges in connection with the event. Moreover, it has been reported that Drake, who performed on the same night at the festival, had sought dismissal from the ongoing litigation last month.
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