By all accounts, the Dave Matthews Band concert Saturday night at Scott Stadium marked a success for those charged with safety and security concerns.
Despite months of planning for worst-case scenarios, there were no major incidents and only minimal altercations. "It was a pleasant night for everybody ... it was very successful from our standpoint," University Police Chief Michael Sheffield said.
There were no major problems at the concert, and police made only a few arrests, Sheffield said. Two arrests were drug related and the others were drunk in public arrests. Additional fans were asked to leave for various disruptions. An exact number of arrests, however, was not available.
Charlottesville Fire Deputy Chief Charles Werner said the number of problems was "a lot less" than what safety officials expected.
There were no fire incidents and a few dozen emergency medical calls. Four individuals were transported to the medical center. Concerts of this size average more than 100 such incidents at best, Werner said.
"This was the best possible experience we could have hoped for," he said.
Officials in the athletic department also participated in planning for the concert - they hired additional security and facilities management personnel. Close to 300 additional security officials, wearing yellow T-shirts, were hired in addition to ushers and ticket takers.
The University's contract with Dave Matthews Band allotted a $70,000 rental fee to the athletic department plus expenses for use of Scott Stadium.
"When you put the pieces together - parking, security, the band, the fans and the weather - I don't know if it could be any better," said Jason Bauman, associate athletic director for facilities and operations.
Although officials made minor shifts in security during the show, the overall plan stayed the same, Bauman said. "It didn't fool us."
Bauman plans to make an assessment of damage to the stadium. He has yet to make a walk-through, but he doesn't expect to find any significant damage based on impressions so far.
Many credited the lack of any major incidents to planning and to a predominantly local crowd.
Sheffield called the fans' conduct "another indication of the good people at the University and in the community."
Werner said it was an "exceptionally behaved audience" because it was a predominantly hometown crowd and because it may have been an older crowd than many Dave Matthews Band shows. He also credited the messages from University and Charlottesville officials that instructed students to remain well-behaved in order to have future concerts held at the University.
University administrators will decide whether to host future concerts in Scott Stadium. University spokeswoman Louise Dudley said each concert proposal would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis considering financial and community concerns.
"The administration thinks [this show] was successful," Dudley said.
Sheffield and Werner said they would not object to future shows based on this experience.
Werner also said the planning created stronger bonds between the different entities involved, including the University, Virginia State and Albemarle police departments and the Charlottesville and Albemarle sheriffs' departments.
"It's nice to work in a community where the law enforcement agencies work together," said Ronnie Roberts, a Charlottesville Police sergeant who handled traffic around Scott Stadium on Saturday. "You don't find that in a lot of areas"
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