Disappointed at reality of festival

Teri Pike
Published: June 7, 2008

I recently attended the WMZQ Fest with five friends. I very much looked forward to an exciting event at, what I was told, a wonderful venue. I was greatly disappointed. 

Although the performers were terrific, I was upset to discover that I would be sharing lawn seats with several HUNDRED drunk underage individuals who were engaging in some of the most disgusting activities I have ever witnessed at a public venue. I wasn’t bothered by the $10 beer or the $9 basket of chicken wings. No, I was upset because I had to trip over drunk, passed out, underaged individuals anytime I elected to leave my lawn seats. I witnessed women puking in the restrooms. I saw individuals engaging in sexual activities on the lawn. All of these activities made fraternity parties seem lame.

What I found to be the most disturbing was the lack of security presence at the venue. I saw the same four “security guards” twice during the entire seven hour period that I was there. Neither time did any of them approach the underage drinkers or the passed-out individuals for further investigation. I must question what their job was that evening if they weren’t addressing the most obvious of problems.

I understand and appreciate that Nissan Pavilion is a large venue.  That being said, I feel that you should find a more efficient and EFFECTIVE way of enforcing the commonwealth of Virginia’s laws regarding the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages (use of bracelets). God forbid that it should take something tragic — the rape of a drunk female attendee, the death of someone who
overdosed on alcohol, etc. — for you to take serious action.

I hope that this letter is motivation enough for you to improve the professional services you pledge to provide.

I plan to attend five more Megaticket shows in the future. It is my hope that you will be provide a more family-friendly atmosphere at future events.

TERI PIKE

Gainesville