The city says Commonwealth Stadium has recovered well from the intense storm Saturday night that forced thousands to evacuate a concert. More than 30,000 concertgoers, there to see Post Malone, were told over the intercom to seek shelter in the concourse as heavy rain and high winds whipped through the outdoor venue. “Based on the lightning strikes and the dangerous winds that were present during the storm, it was determined that the safest place for fans to wait out the very fast moving storm was on the concourse areas,” said an email from the City of Edmonton. The neighbouring Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre was closed to the public when the storm hit, but was available for shelter if needed. However, those seeking shelter would have to go outdoors and walk around the Stadium to get there, making it unsafe given the conditions. “Whenever you move large numbers of people in a confined space there are risk factors involved,” said the city. “The passageway between the Stadium and rec centre is narrow and would not empty into spaces that would accommodate large numbers of people.” There were 510 security guards, 115 ushers and customer service staff, 125 event staff, and emergency personnel at the Stadium during the concert that helped in ushering concertgoers to safety. Edmonton transit buses were also available on-site to offer additional shelter space. The city says all Stadium staff are briefed prior to all events and participate in annual evacuation training. Reviews are also done post-event.
