FURIOUS Arctic Monkeys fans have described the organisation of the Old Trafford cricket ground concerts as `an absolute shambles'.
They claim they were crammed in like cattle, while bar and toilet facilities were hopelessly inadequate and stewards and police appeared unable to maintain control of brawling fans.
One of many fans who emailed the Manchester Evening News described it as `the poorest crowd management I have ever witnessed'.
She described men urinating into paper cups which were then thrown among the crowd, while others urinated near food areas because queues for portable toilets were so long.
Fans who attended the first of two weekend concerts on Saturday complained they had to queue for an hour to get a drink - and in many cases found bars had run out before they got there.
Another concert-goer, environmental education officer Gemma Lee, 27, from Prestwich, said: "It was the first nice sunny day anyone had had for ages and it should have been a great occasion. Instead, it was a bit of a shambles. The organisation was shocking.
"Scuffles occasionally broke out in the crowd, but security-wise there was nobody to be seen. It just hadn't been thought out properly, and it was so unfair to all those who paid good money to go."
Jonathan Lee said: "I attach no blame to the Arctic Monkeys but the organisation was a joke. I was constantly hearing people from neighbouring cities slagging off Manchester for not being able to stage a big event, and although I'm a proud Mancunian I had to reluctantly agree with them."
Another fan emailed: " After queuing for an hour for a drink, and moving only a few yards, we gave up as we knew that we'd then have to queue for the toilets.
"We were so disgusted we left after two hours. Surely there were serious breaches of health and safety laws? I will never attend a gig at the LCCC again."
Another wrote: "Getting home was a nightmare: no trains or buses for miles. The organisation was shambolic."
And another said: "Queues for toilets and beer were an absolute joke.
"I have been to loads of gigs all over the country, and this was the worst I have been to in terms of organisation."
What did you think of the facilities at the Lancashire Cricket Club gig? Have your say.
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Buggerluggs, Manchester (31/07/2007 at 09:58)
We missed all the support bands, and the disorder just ruined my day.
The only shining light was of course the monkeys and seeing some girl accidently drink wee out of a pint glass.
Megz, warrington (31/07/2007 at 10:04)
No one expects big outdoor concerts like this to be the cleanest places to be, but with clearly not enough toilet facilities the ground itself became the toilet, with cups of urine being hurled into the crownd, along with beer and no security to be seen!!
This has no reflection on the brilliant atmosphere and great live music, but
Buggerluggs, Manchester (31/07/2007 at 10:04)
Thirsty, we queued another hour and a half for a beer in a queue (I say that queue, I meant mob) of about 35 people deep. Once stocked up, we then had to fight our way through the queue, our hands full of over priced beer, in flimsy paper cups. And where were the stewards round the bars, two meat heads kicked off, and I was pretty sure I was going to get caught up in the ruckus. Why didn¿t the LCC open their bars, scattered around the stadium? We missed all the support bands, and the disorganisation just ruined our day. The only shining light was of course the Monkeys, and watching a girl accidentally drink a pint pot of wee.
Megz, warrington (31/07/2007 at 10:11)
Music was brilliant tho!!
natalie (31/07/2007 at 10:48)
Pieman, Manchester (31/07/2007 at 10:50)
I went on Sunday. Organisation wise it was a complete mess. The facilities laid on were woefully inadequate for a crowd of that size. Blatant profiteering - get as many through the gates as possible then skimp on the facilities laid on for them.
To the urophiliacs in the crowd - why??? Sick, sick idiots.
Music was good though.
The_umpire, Salford, Lancashire (31/07/2007 at 11:53)
At least when there is a concert at the city ground, though it might not be much better, at least you see the stewards and crowd control staff.
That is the difference between Manchester & Trafford Councils.
In regard to buses, though they get filled very quickly, we all got home from city concerts this year, with stagecoach and whoever making sure there was 50+ buses waiting at the end of the concert, metrolink have no accuse, they have a station right next door and could of eased the situation quite easily.
Vincit Omnia Industria, Radcliffe (31/07/2007 at 12:59)
ssuzi17 (31/07/2007 at 13:09)
It's a great venue attracting great acts, but if they are going to put anything on next summer I suggest they put their thinking caps on first and try to come up with ideas to prevent the same complaints arising.
blue to bits, Old Trafford,Stretford. (31/07/2007 at 13:18)
LCC ground isn't as there's usually 3 men and a dog watching cricket matches with a massive 20K at a test match thats why the residents object to concerts and are duly ignored in the persuit of greed from LCCC
PERKO, Frodsham, Cheshire (31/07/2007 at 13:21)
Dave G, M/cr (31/07/2007 at 13:33)
Vicky, Manchester (31/07/2007 at 13:38)
The only problem was the difficulty getting home on a Sunday night, with no taxis to be seen and the metro not running properly.
Other than that I thought it was a great venue!
MattP (31/07/2007 at 13:39)
The toilets were a joke though. There were not enough at all for the amount of people. On top of this girls using the blokes toilets causing more queuing when they only wanted to use the cubicals, as in the urinals are blocked by queing girls. They had no one monitoring or cleaning the toilets, and they were overflowing by 3pm in some places. Health and saftey should get involved. Animals are treated better.
Jemma Hall (31/07/2007 at 14:13)
Forward with Frank (31/07/2007 at 14:22)
I didn't go to the Arctic Monkeys so can't comment but I imagine that there were quite a few peope from sheffield there and we all know their sort.
Jemma Hall (31/07/2007 at 14:25)
I have a really weak bladder and i was desperate for the toilet, I spoke to a senior member of the staff to see if i could leave the venue and go find a toilet and was told i wouldn't be able to get back in. So my option was miss the concert or go there and then. Shocking.
citybird, Manchester (31/07/2007 at 15:07)
Arrived early as am a big Amy Winehouse fan. Saw one third of her performance before deciding we needed some liquid refreshment. We queued for 1.5 hours! People were pushing in, fainting, and it didn't end there! Once you'd bought your drinks you had to fight your way back out of the queues the same way you went in, losing half the drink in the process! Finally made it back part way through the Coral. Held my bladder for the whole night until the end when saw someone peeing up against the outside of a cubicle door, whilst my husband was inside it! DISGUSTING! This was my 4th concert at LCCC and every other time has been a fantastic day out with minimal queues of 5 mins due to the use of beer tokens. Why were they not used?????
No way will I be going to another concert here.
Music was fantastic though at least! : )
NatM, Manchester (31/07/2007 at 15:09)
BluePolarBear, ex of Stockport (31/07/2007 at 15:10)
Scott James Griffiths (31/07/2007 at 15:10)
I have been to concerts at LCCC on a number of occasions previously including Foo Fighters and REM and I have never seen such a disgraceful debacle. The club should take legal action against the organisers, who themselves should be lined up and shot for exploiting those who were looking forward to seeing a great band on a great day out.
Simple - provide toilets you utter morons.
I AM FURIOUS
Castlefield blue, Manchester (31/07/2007 at 15:13)
rosler lover, manchester (31/07/2007 at 15:25)
john smith, MANCHESTER (31/07/2007 at 15:41)
busman_dave, manchester (31/07/2007 at 15:58)
yes, all the buses did fill up quickly, and yes, they did slowly make their way into town, but instead of just leaving it at that, the majority of drivers went the extra mile to return back to LCCC knowing that they could be stuck in traffic for ages (some even for a third or fourth time) to help the police clear the crowds. and remember, some of these drivers had already done their shift and should have been at home resting. so before people start slating bus drivers, just remember that we do go that extra mile when it's needed. (sometimes at the cost of precious family time)