Featured image credit: Lloyd Kearney on Unsplash
Guests at a recent gig held at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool have raised concerns over venue safety.
The arena is due to hold the Eurovision Song Contest next year, but some fans attending a recent Jamie Webster concert have reported overcrowding and poor ticket checks at the venue.
One attendee, Paul Lang, took to Twitter to voice his concerns over safety at the venue, with pictures showing large crowds in tight spaces.
Alongside the pictures, Lang wrote: “Not even checking tickets, crush bound to happen. People coming out in a state. Still more people trying to get in, had to walk away.”
#JamieWebster not even checking tickets, crush bound to happen. People coming out in a state. Still more people trying to get in, had to walk away… pic.twitter.com/V8m6aKI0Mf
— Paul Lang (@PaulNLang) November 19, 2022
Webster is a Liverpool native and thousands of fans packed out the 11,000-capacity M&S Bank Arena to see the singer live.
However, a statement from ACC Liverpool Group, which runs the arena, said that all appropriate checks had been made.
ACC Liverpool Group also said that an investigation has been launched.
Faye Dyer, managing director at ACC, told BBC News in a statement: “There were reports of overcrowding at one of the floor bars, however the crowd congestion was resolved and people were dispersed. Merseyside Police received a report of concern for safety at the venue just before 9.30pm and attended the venue for a short period whilst our events security dealt with the incident. The event was deemed safe to continue.
“The process for checking tickets is a rigorous one and we understand all appropriate checks were made on the night. The safety of our customers is of the upmost importance; we take any incident seriously and a detailed investigation has already begun.
“We sincerely apologise to both the artist Jamie, who was playing the biggest show of his life, and to his fans for any aspects of their experience which fell short of their expectations. We wish to thank Jamie and his promoter for their support in removing the encore to ensure the remainder of the show continued to operate safely.”
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