Police handled a large, rowdy crowd Thursday night at the , as hundreds of concert goers got off the train and waited for Live Nation shuttle buses to the PNC Bank Arts Center.
Police officers and ambulances were on hand, in anticipation of the crowds of young concert goers on their way to the 311, Slightly Stoopid concert. They were on extra alert after a similar incident in Long Branch .
were taken to Monmouth Medical Center after passing out from heat exhaustion.
Matawan Police Department Lt. Ben Smith said he is not sure how long the shuttles have been running from Matawan, but the department prepares before every "high profile" concert with Live Nation, the company that provides buses. Crowds were on their way to the 311, Slightly Stoopid concert.
Live Nation meets with Matawan Police to review target numbers based on ticket sales for concerts, according to Smith. The department then determines how many officers and ambulances to station in the area.
Smith said Matawan officers are concerned that not enough buses were sent to Matawan by Live Nation.
"Not having adequate busing, that's what causes a lot of the problems. We had hundreds of people coming into the station at one time," Smith said.
Thursday night's situation began in Long Branch, as crowds switched trains to Matawan to reach the shuttle. Long Branch Police Capt. Jason Roebuck said many of the "kids" were intoxicated and that the train was "overcrowded."
Nancy Snyder, a spokesperson with NJ Transit Police Department, said the agency had not received reports of fights on trains.
Calls made to the PNC Bank Arts Center were not returned in time for publication.
Long Branch Local Editor Christopher Sheldon contributed to this report.
I understand that shuttling the concert goers is also a way to increase train ticket sales, but the cost of the security, and these kids' health, is not worth it. May be if they had to drive to the show they wouldn't get wasted.
Last August after the Kesha show I was exposed to behavior that I have NEVER seen before. I dont know what these kids are smoking (bath salts, etc) or drinking (hi caffeine drinks mixed with alcohol)- but the combination of all of the above caused near riotous behavior. If this keeps up, Live Nation should pay for a "Holding Cage" at the train station where these people who are overly indulgent can be held until they come down. I'm serious- I've been to Grateful Dead shows in the '70's and '80's and they were romper room compared to what these kids doing. These types of shows (and our tolerance of this behavior) are a ticking time bomb.
And i went to bamboozled with my 15 year old daughter and on the train on the way home it was packed but the kids were very good very quiet and they got on the train very orderely. even at the i did not see any out of control kids.