Camden Parking, Letter I wrote to Buffett copy & send - also

[Cindi]

To whom it may concern,

I have been following Jimmy Buffett nearly my entire life and have not missed a show in NJ/Pennsylvania area in over 16 years. I am sorry to have to tell you that if Jimmy's concert is held at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden , NJ . Our group of approximately 25 people will not be going. For several years we always tailgated in the Marina Lot, then a few years ago they stopped that. No big deal we were fortunate to be on the grass for those years. We then were moved to the black top, it was something to get used to but hey - it's Jimmy Buffett!!! Last year the city of Camden had a new ordinance of NO tents, after 2 hours of ignoring the police they stopped harassing us and let us keep them up. I believe it was 95 degrees that day. Much hotter on the black top.

Yesterday at the concert, we arrived at 10 AM, to be told that the lots were not opening up until 12:30. We were with a police officer and he was told that it was the Mayor of Camden and the Chief of police who made this decision, that the police "walking the beat" thought it was the most ridiculous thing they saw in a long time. Without exaggeration there were at least 400-500 cars waiting to get into ONE parking lot. Once the gates opened at 12:30 we sat for another 45 minutes before we even moved. We have many years of experience of setting up so that takes only about 15 mins, so we were settled in our location without tents, around 2:00, 4 hours after we arrived. I think the most frustrating thing was when the man in charge of the parking lot was told by his employees that they were ready (around 11:30) my husband in a very joking way said "so are we" --- the man in charge said in exact qoutes "to be honest we don't want any of you here anyway." To say we were SHOCKED is an understatement. Camden is desperate for $$, laying off 1/2 of the police force and a state worker tells us that they do not want 1000 cars paying $25 each to be there!

Dave Mathews Band is playing at Bader Field in Atlantic City , NJ this weekend, and is an awesome place for a concert. They are expecting nearly 75,000 people in 3 days and have over 2000 port a potties set up. Very well organized. Kenny Chesney had a show at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia . Both of these places allow tailgating and know how to handle large crowds.

We ask that you please consider another location in the surrounding area, as we have enjoyed going all these years, but the city of Camden has angered many and taken away the laid back, relaxing the day away feeling.

Thanks for you time,

[plyparrothead]

Excellent letter. I had a very similar experience both years and our group of 15, will also not be attending another Camden concert. It was completely wrong not to allow the parking lots to open prior to noon and then the did not have adequate people to handle the lots. We actually had to leave a lot because of all the empty spaces taken by tents and chair instead of cars.

If the city needs money, hire some good attendants and they could make some real money by properly filling lots. I been to may concerts and sporting events where we are parked solid and set our tents in the rows.

Next year we will be paying another venue that knows how to put on an event our money even if it involves traveling overnight.

[ph4ever]

What if Jimmy receives a bunch of letters like this and says screw it I'll just play one less venue on the east coast. You should be happy you get a concert in your area. There's many cities he hasn't been to in YEARS.

[LIPH]

I'm amazed that people actually think Buffett gives a s*** about what time the lots open and how the parking lot attendants treat you. He gets his money for doing a concert, not for making sure the fans have a chance to party in the lot all day.

[ph4ever]

I'm amazed that people actually think Buffett gives a s*** about what time the lots open and how the parking lot attendants treat you. He gets his money for doing a concert, not for making sure the fans have a chance to party in the lot all day.

I was going to say the same thing, but I didn't.

[LIPH]

You're welcome.

[Parro-Tone]

I have also been going to many Buffett shows at the NJ/PA venues and this year was the WORST by a mile!

Once we were finally in the parking lot at 1:30 the Police were walking around with ticket books in hand ready to write tickets for having a tent!!! Imagine that...you can drink all the alcohol you want on public property without any charges against you...but don't put up a tent or you will be ticketed!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!! One of the Police said it was because they had cameras installed and the tents obstructed the view of the cameras. The truth behind that is questionable. Last year the reason they gave us for banning tents was because someone overdosed on drugs and they couldn't get an ambulance through the parking lot. So the story has changed from last year to this year making it much less credible.

Not only was the parking situation a disaster but they even forced Jimmy to play his show without an intermission and end it at 10:30. So there was no time to take a restroom break, buy shirts food or drinks or even watch the customary intermission video.

Every year now Camden seems to be clamping down on the Buffett crowd. Next year they will probably open the parking lots at 3:00pm and give him 2 hours to do a show.

Jimmy needs to move his shows to the Philadelphia side of the river because it has been clearly demonstrated that CAMDEN DOES NOT WELCOME PARROTHEADS!

[buffettbride]

I miss New Jersey.

[Parro-Tone]

What if Jimmy receives a bunch of letters like this and says screw it I'll just play one less venue on the east coast. You should be happy you get a concert in your area. There's many cities he hasn't been to in YEARS.

It wont happen. Philly/Camden is ALWAYS on the tour itinerary because it almost always is a sell out. Most times there are two shows when other metro areas only get one show.

[LIPH]

Not only was the parking situation a disaster but they even forced Jimmy to play his show without an intermission and end it at 10:30. So there was no time to take a restroom break, buy shirts food or drinks or even watch the customary intermission video.

There hasn't been an intermission at any of the shows on this year's tour so they didn't "force" him to do anything.

[ph4ever]

What if Jimmy receives a bunch of letters like this and says screw it I'll just play one less venue on the east coast. You should be happy you get a concert in your area. There's many cities he hasn't been to in YEARS.

It wont happen. Philly/Camden is ALWAYS on the tour itinerary because it almost always is a sell out. Most times there are two shows when other metro areas only get one show.

You act as if they are the only places that sell out? Some of the places he hasn't been to in years sold out the last time he was there too. Some in as little as 10 minutes or less.

My point is that instead of bi!ching about it you should be glad that your area gets a plethora of shows at venues that are within driving distance.

[ph4ever]

I miss New Jersey.

no you don't

[SchoolGirlHeart]

Not only was the parking situation a disaster but they even forced Jimmy to play his show without an intermission and end it at 10:30. So there was no time to take a restroom break, buy shirts food or drinks or even watch the customary intermission video.

There hasn't been an intermission at any of the shows on this year's tour so they didn't "force" him to do anything.

You saved me the trouble of typing.

[ph4ever]

Not only was the parking situation a disaster but they even forced Jimmy to play his show without an intermission and end it at 10:30. So there was no time to take a restroom break, buy shirts food or drinks or even watch the customary intermission video.

There hasn't been an intermission at any of the shows on this year's tour so they didn't "force" him to do anything.

You saved me the trouble of typing.

He's being very helpful today, isn't he?

[LIPH]

I'm a team player.

[drunkpirate66]

I admire your passion and determination to write a letter but the fact is Jimmy Buffett has nothing to do with the parking lot rules, town laws, or police/mayor decision making. He never has. He never will. Jimmy stated, boldly, that he would rectify the No Tailgating Rule for The Lube this year. Wonder how that's going? I am sure he is hard at work as I type this.

[captainalex]

Good job with the letter. You never know what may come of it.

[docandjeanie]

Thanks for doing the letter Cindi, our tailgate of probably 85 people was split up and we all sent scrambling all over Camden being forced to move our cars over and over.

[ragtopW]

I miss New Jersey.

no you don't

I do...

<<< Going in August!!!!

[BahamaBreeze]

Not only was the parking situation a disaster but they even forced Jimmy to play his show without an intermission and end it at 10:30. So there was no time to take a restroom break, buy shirts food or drinks or even watch the customary intermission video.

There hasn't been an intermission at any of the shows on this year's tour so they didn't "force" him to do anything.

I may be the only one, but I like the "no intermission". No stopping keeps the energy going, plus you don't have 25,000 women going to the bathroom all at one time.