No more concerts at Circus Maximus? Debate ensues after Travis Scott concert

Stop rock and rap music concerts at the Circus Maximus? This is the topic that is holding the headlines in Rome after the concert of American rapper Travis Scott who performed before a crowd of 60,000 people at the Circus Maximus on Monday, August 7. With some implications that, however, have little to do with music: on the one hand, the near-tragedy due to the crush that formed after someone sprayed pepper spray in the midst of the spectators (it is not the first time this has happened at a Travis Scott concert, but in 2021 it went worse: in Houston, at the Astroworld Festival, eight victims were recorded in the crush). On the other, the sound system that caused very strong vibrations, so much so that on social media many wondered if there had been earthquake tremors in Rome. No earthquake, fortunately: just Travis Scott’s amplifiers adjusted beyond repair.

And for these very reasons there is now talk of preventing new concerts at the Circus Maximus. The director of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum (on which the Circus Maximus depends), Alfonsina Russo, reached by AdnKronos, spoke clearly: the Circus Maximus is a monument, it must be respected, there are issues that concern both the safety of people and that of the site, so no more concerts.

“Given what has happened, also in relation to public safety and the preservation and protection of the archaeological heritage, we will give a negative opinion to this type of event,” he said. “I personally believe that the Circus Maximus is a monument and as such should be respected and should only and exclusively host concerts of a certain type, such as opera, ballet. Music shows but not rock concerts that in my opinion should be moved to the designated spaces i.e. stadiums.”

The request to grant the concert space, says the director, “came at the beginning of August and the technical table was made. We had reservations about this type of event and gave a series of prescriptions since Roma Capitale had already committed itself.” These are the regulations to “not exceed the decibel limit prescribed by the regulations and the fact of not inciting the standing audience to jump, something that had happened in Milan and had caused a number of problems. These prescriptions were not respected so we sent a note to Roma Capitale requesting urgent feedback to understand why they were not.”

Undersecretaries Vittorio Sgarbi and Lucia Borgonzoni also intervened on the issue, declaring themselves more possibilistic than Russo. “I am not against, in principle, organizing large mass concerts, even in places like the Circus Maximus,” Sgarbi said. “It is necessary to demand and have certainties about the way in which these concerts are organized, starting with safety guarantees for the site and the spectators. I am not for repression, but for regularization, with an expert commission that evaluates in advance the plans presented and is then accountable for its decisions. And, in case of omissions on the part of organizers, let there be hefty fines. In short, yes to concerts but with preventive plans, strict security controls and adequate penalties for those who do not respect the rules set.”

Similar line also for Lucia Borgonzoni. “What happened last night at the Circus Maximus is unacceptable because the preservation of monuments and the safety of people was put at risk. I will write a letter to the municipality so that large events in areas of cultural interest respect the prescriptions and rules issued by the institutes of the Ministry of Culture.”

Image: the Circus Maximus. Photo: Wikimedia/Rabax63

No more concerts at Circus Maximus? Debate ensues after Travis Scott concert

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.