Nashville Show Weather

[Bfan53again]

I'll preface this thread by saying that I live in southcentral PA, have never yet made it to the Nashville area (but plan to.....), and had only the Weather Channel to chronicle the nasty weather affecting the nation's mid-section last Saturday.

That said, I must admit that given the life-threatening weather conditions in and around Nashville I was somewhat shocked that I tuned into Radio Margaritaville to hear the pre-concert tailgate and concert as planned. It wasn't until show time that I realized that the Nashville venue was indoors.

Nevertheless, I have to honestly wonder what the "people in charge" were thinking when they allowed this show to go on as planned. I realize that the tickets normally state things like "no refunds" and "performance will continue rain or shine", etc. I've been to many Buffett concerts where we've endured nasty thunderstorms and steady, drenching rain. But we never had to fear for our lives (except for the drunk drivers leaving the show.......).

Promoters have to understand that concert goers, especially Parrotheads, will most likely try to reach a show regardless of weather conditions. If many of these fans were honest with themselves and others now they would have to most likely admit that last Saturday's adventure was more than scary......

Do any BNers know who makes the final decision as to whether a JB concert goes on or is canceled????

[ScarletB]

I don't know who that would be but 2 years ago when there was just the threat of Tropical Storm Hannah blowing through GW the decision was made to move the show up 5 hours, in the end the storm didn't turn into much so they erred on the side of safety. Leads me to believe it's the venue.

[C-Dawg]

I don't know who that would be but 2 years ago when there was just the threat of Tropical Storm Hannah blowing through GW the decision was made to move the show up 5 hours, in the end the storm didn't turn into much so they erred on the side of safety. Leads me to believe it's the venue.

Hurricane Hannah show.....my personal favorite Jimmy Buffett concert! Amazing setlist, awesome tailgate and amazing after concert party!!!!!

[ScarletB]

I don't know who that would be but 2 years ago when there was just the threat of Tropical Storm Hannah blowing through GW the decision was made to move the show up 5 hours, in the end the storm didn't turn into much so they erred on the side of safety. Leads me to believe it's the venue.

Hurricane Hannah show.....my personal favorite Jimmy Buffett concert! Amazing setlist, awesome tailgate and amazing after concert party!!!!!

It really was fun, loved the "Blow me Hannah" sign! So weird though to be back at the hotel by 7:00!!

[JollyMon66]

Regarding the decisions regarding the show and weather...my money is on the venue and the show promotion company. I've been to MANY conncets over the years...in thinking back I think only one was cancelled and postponed until the next day...Robert Plant and Cheap Trick in the late 80's. They called the show after it poured all afternoon....needless to say that the crowd of drunk fans weren't too happy.

[landlocked_pirate]

My wife and I got as far towards Nashville as Lebanon TN. We checked into a motel and the staff began telling us the procedure for tornado warnings. We turned on the tv to local weather warning of a set of tornado warnings along with roads that were begining to be closed. We decided as much as I love to listen to Buffett, it would be safer from a non-life-threatening distance. Maybe I am not dedicated enough, or maybe I just was raised to have more sense. Not sure about refund due to closed roads. Will have to wait and see. The day after, when the downtown was flooded, as was Lebanon TN, I was glad to have made the choice we did.Try again next time.

[LandSharkEric]

We drove in from Birmingham, about 200 miles to the south. I was concerned about the weather; we moved up our departure time by an hour or two, got to Nashville about 1PM, parked the car, and toughed it out.

I think (but obviously I would think this!) that the promoters made the right decision by keeping the show as scheduled. If it had been cancelled, when would that decision have been made? How would it have been communicated to the thousands of fans en route, or already down on Broadway having a good time?

During the three-hour show itself, Bridgestone Arena was about the safest place to be. We were in a central location, the mayor was able to come out on stage and give updates on road closures, etc. So I think that the decision to keep the show as scheduled was a smart one.

Now. With the additional rain yesterday, and the continued rising of the Cumberland River, downtown Nashville is in MUCH worse shape today than it was on Saturday. Broadway seems to be completely flooded, local hotels evacuated, etc. So if the concert had been scheduled for tonight, I don't think there's any question that the show would be called off.

I hope those of you who couldn't make it to the show because of closed roads, etc., will get some sort of refund from the promoters or Ticketmaster. I'll be stunned if you do, but I hope I'm wrong!

[MaxHeadroom56]

We were at Rippy's from about 1 PM on and the Tornado sirens blew 2 or 3 times but we never saw anything bad other then lots of rain. Before the concert started the Mayor of Nashville got up and talked about roads closed and be careful, but I don't know who would make a call of canceling the show or changing the time. There was a bit of lightening and thunder as we left the venue that concerned me some but...

[citcat]

They didn't cancel the show because that day, there was just RAIN. Rain will NOT cancel out a concert, especially an inside one. We were at the Ramajay (Tall Paul and Quincy) show at Rippy's and Tall Paul joked that they changed the key of their music to match that of the tornado sirens. There was no wind and no tornado.
What the people in charge were thinking was: there are over 30,000 people walking around downtown Nashville in the rain and this is a FRIGGIN' INSIDE CONCERT !!! We got out on Sunday just fine. Some of our friends had to stay over an extra day because the roads on their way out were under water. It was weird, however, to see Briley Parkway under water.
Prayers for the people whose homes and businesses were flooded. The water rose all day Sunday and is now over the parking lot at 2nd and Molloy where the tailgate was. Let's hope the water goes down fast.

[SchoolGirlHeart]

I don't think the concert should have been canceled. It was safer to bring all those people inside the arena than leave them out in the weather, and just after the show there was a lull that allowed people to get back to hotels or nearby homes safely. If the show had been canceled people would have been driving/traveling through some of the worst of it. I do, however, think it would be a decent thing to do for the promoter to offer refunds for unused tickets. I can FULLY understand turning around or stopping if you were coming from any distance by car on Saturday. Driving conditions were horrible.

[he came from london]

My wife and I got as far towards Nashville as Lebanon TN. We checked into a motel and the staff began telling us the procedure for tornado warnings. We turned on the tv to local weather warning of a set of tornado warnings along with roads that were begining to be closed. We decided as much as I love to listen to Buffett, it would be safer from a non-life-threatening distance. Maybe I am not dedicated enough, or maybe I just was raised to have more sense. Not sure about refund due to closed roads. Will have to wait and see. The day after, when the downtown was flooded, as was Lebanon TN, I was glad to have made the choice we did.Try again next time.

Think my volcano trumps your rain for not making a concert.

[dnw]

My wife and I got as far towards Nashville as Lebanon TN. We checked into a motel and the staff began telling us the procedure for tornado warnings. We turned on the tv to local weather warning of a set of tornado warnings along with roads that were begining to be closed. We decided as much as I love to listen to Buffett, it would be safer from a non-life-threatening distance. Maybe I am not dedicated enough, or maybe I just was raised to have more sense. Not sure about refund due to closed roads. Will have to wait and see. The day after, when the downtown was flooded, as was Lebanon TN, I was glad to have made the choice we did.Try again next time.

Think my volcano trumps your rain for not making a concert.

[weirdo0521]

I don't think the concert should have been canceled. It was safer to bring all those people inside the arena than leave them out in the weather, and just after the show there was a lull that allowed people to get back to hotels or nearby homes safely. If the show had been canceled people would have been driving/traveling through some of the worst of it. I do, however, think it would be a decent thing to do for the promoter to offer refunds for unused tickets. I can FULLY understand turning around or stopping if you were coming from any distance by car on Saturday. Driving conditions were horrible.

How could refunds be issued? The event took place, I don't see how you could issue refunds under that circumstance.

[landlocked_pirate]

Think my volcano trumps your rain for not making a concert.

I agree with JB in that Now I don't like the sound of the ground movin' round
Or winds spinnin' out of control.

[LandSharkEric]

Let me preface this by saying that this will NEVER happen.

HOWEVER, if Ticketmaster and/or the concert management folks wanted to issue refunds, they could. The tickets are barcoded; they know who used their tix and who didn't.

And, if they wanted to get into more detail, they could even allow refunds based on the purchaser's zip code. Refunds for people in West Tennessee, for example, who didn't use their tickets.

Yes, this wouldn't cover everyone. But it would be a good PR move. And still, it will never happen.

I'm curious as to what the numbers of people are that didn't make it. There sure as heck didn't seem to be many empty seats at the concert. I can't imagine we're talking about more than a few hundred people.

I don't think the concert should have been canceled. It was safer to bring all those people inside the arena than leave them out in the weather, and just after the show there was a lull that allowed people to get back to hotels or nearby homes safely. If the show had been canceled people would have been driving/traveling through some of the worst of it. I do, however, think it would be a decent thing to do for the promoter to offer refunds for unused tickets. I can FULLY understand turning around or stopping if you were coming from any distance by car on Saturday. Driving conditions were horrible.

How could refunds be issued? The event took place, I don't see how you could issue refunds under that circumstance.

[LandSharkEric]

Also, here's another interesting tidbit: the Goo Goo Dolls were scheduled to play Ryman Auditorium in Nashville last night. They moved the show to TONIGHT at 7:30. Is anyone going to be able to get into downtown Nashville tonight???

From their Facebook page:

Due to the Metro-Nashville State of Emergency, the Goo Goo Dolls concert originally scheduled for Sunday, May 2 has been moved to today, May 3. All May 2 tickets will be honored on May 3. The concert will begin at 7:30pm.

Tickets are now available at all ticket outlets for the concert this evening.

If you are not able to attend the rescheduled concert today, refunds will honored at point-of-purchase until 5:00 pm this Friday May 7.

Parking garages on Commerce Street north of Broadway as well as the garage in the Suntrust Building next door to the Ryman are open. Phones at the Ryman are not currently working but you can email ldupont@ryman.com with questions.

Very nice that they are setting up a refund option in advance, and letting people know they can get refunds until Friday at 5. That part is very classy. But I still wonder if they're nuts for trying to hold a show at Ryman tonight?

[phjrsaunt]

It *was* one of the more complicated road trips I've ever taken. As citcat said, on Saturday is was just rain. (although my point of reference as to what qualifies as "just" rain has forever changed!). By the time the tornado siren went off, my friend and I just figured we were already there and there really wasn't a thing we could do besides have fun at that point. I will say that we got up MUCH earlier on Sunday than planned and got the H-E-doulbeyouknowwhat out of there. We were seriously concerned for safety, but took it slow and easy. We were travelling due east; once we got about 30 miles east of Nashville it actually started to clear up. I was very impressed by the Mayor of Nashville, and the way they handled the situation. I'm so sorry for the peeps that couldn't make it in or back out; I guess our timing was just right. Should "they" have cancelled the show? No. Was I glad the show was at indoor venue? Hell yes.

[Bfan53again]

My wife and I got as far towards Nashville as Lebanon TN. We checked into a motel and the staff began telling us the procedure for tornado warnings. We turned on the tv to local weather warning of a set of tornado warnings along with roads that were begining to be closed. We decided as much as I love to listen to Buffett, it would be safer from a non-life-threatening distance. Maybe I am not dedicated enough, or maybe I just was raised to have more sense. Not sure about refund due to closed roads. Will have to wait and see. The day after, when the downtown was flooded, as was Lebanon TN, I was glad to have made the choice we did.Try again next time.

Common sense is a wonderful thing..........

[UAHparrothead]

I figured I would throw my two cents worth in.

This was not just rain. This was a major flooding disaster. We could not get to the concert because the roads were CLOSED, legally CLOSED, as in there was no other way to get into Nashville from the east, south, or west. The majority of those people who when to the concert were the ones with hotel rooms downtown or those who got there early and good for them.

All that being said, it would have been impossible to cancel the show and it would have been unfair to those actually there standing in the rain. Would it be super duper rock 'n roll cool if they were to issue refunds to those who could not make it? Yes. But I don't expect it and I am sure that Jimmy has nothing to do with it. He has his contract price to play and it is up to the venue to decide whether to issue refunds. I don't blame Jimmy.

Now all THAT being said, it sucked hardcore that we didn't get to go and it sucked that I didn't get to see the plethora of BNers who came. But I roof over my head and a dry floor to set my feet. So I am a lucky dude and there is always next year.

[SchoolGirlHeart]

I don't think the concert should have been canceled. It was safer to bring all those people inside the arena than leave them out in the weather, and just after the show there was a lull that allowed people to get back to hotels or nearby homes safely. If the show had been canceled people would have been driving/traveling through some of the worst of it. I do, however, think it would be a decent thing to do for the promoter to offer refunds for unused tickets. I can FULLY understand turning around or stopping if you were coming from any distance by car on Saturday. Driving conditions were horrible.

How could refunds be issued? The event took place, I don't see how you could issue refunds under that circumstance.

Tickets were scanned upon entry. Any unscanned tickets would then be subject to refund. Not perfect, but it would be a good gesture.