In Friday’s (4/6) American-Statesman (Austin, Texas), Jeanne Claire van Ryzin writes, “It’s becoming something of a regular happening in Downtown Austin: traffic snarls, parking shortages, sound complaints, concert delays and angry ticket-holders. It happened last weekend, when Austin Symphony Orchestra officials say that at least a couple of hundred patrons never made it to a concert at the Long Center while the Urban Music Festival played on Auditorium Shores. And at the Palmer Events Center next to the Long Center, even more crowds attended a roller derby match. After numerous complaints, symphony Executive Director Anthony Corroa emailed patrons Wednesday night, urging them to contact the City Council about the ‘intolerable’ situation. ‘We have had this issue come up before,’ Mayor Lee Leffingwell said Thursday. ‘I’d like to know how it happened (this past weekend) and what will be done to keep it from happening again.’ … Jamie Grant, Long Center executive director, said that his staff ‘spends a great deal of time coordinating with city officials when there are multiple events.’ … Grant said he has a meeting with the city scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the matter.”
Posted April 6, 2012
