By Sarah Tompkins
Staff Writer
Los Lonely Boys performed tonight for fans who reserved seats up to 8 hours before the 9:30 p.m. show.
Volunteer Rick Powers, 43, said that the seat reservations were competitive this year. He said new policies prohibited the use of blankets in certain areas and allowed for chairs. People still came early, he said.
“(Waiting) since 8:30 a.m. was the earliest I heard,” Mr. Powers said.
The policies were intended to address safety concerns and to prevent people in chairs from blocking the view of spectators on blankets. Sallie Beckes, Riverbend public relations and marketing director, said it prevented injuries from people trying to walk between fans seated on the ground and elevated in chairs. However, volunteers still had to keep standing spectators from blocking the view of those seated, Mr. Powers said.
“It’s like herding cats,” he said. “You just have to keep pushing them.”
Camping chairs and lawn chairs were lined at the arms across almost all of the lawn. Mr. Powers said at least five people reported having their seats stolen.
“The moral of the story is to use a cheap chair to reserve seats,” he said.
E-mail Sarah Tompkins at stompkins@timesfreepress.com
