After a performance at Rome’s Circus Maximus by American rapper Travis Scott sparked concerns of an earthquake on Monday evening, the director of the nearby Colosseum is calling for an end to concerts at the ancient Roman venue.
According to a CNN report, “hundred of calls” were made by residents who thought there had been an earthquake to the local fire service.
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It was confirmed with local authorities, however, that the tremors were caused by thousands of people jumping at Scott’s concert. That night, he introduced Ye (a.k.a. Kanye West), who has not publicly performed since making antisemitic comments online.
As a result, Alfonsina Russo, the director of the Colosseum, is calling for an end to mega concerts held at the Circus Maximus.
“The Circus Maximus is a monument. It is not a stadium, not a concert hall,” she told Italian news outlet AGI. “These mega rock concerts put it at risk, including the Palatine Hill nearby.”
She added, “Rock concerts should be held in stadiums so as not to endanger public safety.”
Only operas and ballets, Russo believes, should be held at the venue.
The Circus Maximus is an ancient Roman chariot-racing and entertainment venue situated between Rome’s Aventine and Palatine hills, where the Colosseum, among other irreplaceable monuments, are also located. In recent years, the Circus Maximus has become a popular concert venue. This summer, it has hosting bands such as Imagine Dragons, Guns N’ Roses, and Bruce Springsteen.
In addition to the shaking on Monday, at least 60 concert goers needed medical attention after an attendee dispersed pepper spray into the crowd. A 14-year-old who scaled a fake wall to see the concert was also injured after falling 13 feet.
This is not the first time Scott’s concerts have been considered negligent. In 2021, a crowd crush at Houston’s Astroworld Festival killed ten people and injured hundreds more.
It is hardly the first time a mega music concert has caused tremors. Last month, for example, a Taylor Swift concert caused seismic activity equivalent of a 2.3 magnitude earthquake.
Source: artnews.com