On Oct. 17, Morgan Harrington was denied re-entry into the Metallica concert at John Paul Jones Arena. That night, she disappeared. This disappearance could possibly have been prevented - if she had been allowed back into the venue, there's a chance she would not have disappeared. In light of these recent events, JPJ, along with numerous other arenas and concert venues that have this same no re-entry policy, should reconsider this potentially dangerous policy, and adopt more lenient ones that could potentially prove much safer for concert patrons.
The JPJ Web site states that "Exiting and reentering with the same ticket is not permitted." This policy is not a unique one; many concert venues across the nation adopt the same policy, and for good reason. The main reasons for policies like these are to prevent patrons from sharing tickets or from visiting their cars during the concert to consume alcohol or drugs, and then returning to the concert. In an interview with The Hook, Larry Wilson, venue manager at JPJ, stated that this policy of no re-entry is "standard operating procedure for every facility I know of in the country" and cited the numerous bathrooms, smoking areas, and concession stands available inside JPJ, implying there is no need for concert-goers to exit the arena.
While this policy has its merits, it also has huge disadvantages. Like in Harrington's case, such a strict policy can prove extremely dangerous. For concert patrons that need to exit the arena for any reason (granted this is surely rare), arenas should provide a way for patrons to return, if even just for safety issues. Many concert-goers, like Harrington, attend concerts with a group of friends and don't always have access to cars or anywhere else to wait out the rest of the concert if for some reason they need to leave. Waiting outside of the arena is not a safe option, especially if for some reason the person can't get hold of a friend inside the concert. There are a number of ways in which JPJ, and similar concert venues, can change their policy in favor of a more safety-conscious one.
Instead of allowing no re-entry, the venue could easily follow the model of the Charlottesville Pavilion. This well-known concert venue located at the Downtown Mall does, in fact, allow re-entry to a majority of its concerts. Its Web site states, "If you plan to leave and come back, you will receive a hand stamp and then will need to show your hand stamp and ticket for reentry." This model is a simple, inexpensive, and popular one that could increase safety of concert-goers. Wristbands would serve this same purpose. With the presence of either a stamp or a wristband and a ticket stub, patrons would not be able to share tickets, a major reason for the no re-entry policy.
Furthermore, the idea that re-entry is denied because of the fear of patrons going to their cars and consuming drugs or alcohol mid-concert seems fallacious. This sounds like a good reason on paper, but hundreds, perhaps thousands, of patrons enter the arena drunk, high, or with flasks, and are rarely denied entry by security. If security personnel don't seem to mind the first time around, why would they mind the second? But if this is a legitimate concern for arena managers, a simple solution could be implemented: breathalyzers are quick to use and cheap to purchase - simply test patrons that appear clearly intoxicated (we're talking slurring words and falling over, not just everyone) and don't allow them into the concert in the first place.
Understandably, many argue that allowing freedom of entry and exit into and out of these large arenas could potentially create logistical nightmares; more parking-lot fights could ensue and there would surely be a rise in parking lot drug and alcohol usage. More police would have to be hired and perhaps more security cameras installed. But these are not precautions that should only be taken if re-entry is allowed into arenas. If large concert venues such as JPJ refuse re-entry into the concert, there should be a large police presence and security cameras covering all angles of the parking lots, manned at all times.
The current no re-entry policy of JPJ and most other concert venues across the nation is a dangerous one. There are a number of possibilities that these venues could pursue to better ensure the safety of their patrons. Allowing concert-goers to re-enter the concert with a hand stamp or wristband and a ticket stub and increasing security outside of these arenas through more police presence and more surveillance cameras would be a step toward safer concert environments. JPJ would not comment on its current policy, but in light of the recent disappearance of Morgan Harrington, JPJ and other concert venues across the country should seriously consider revising their re-entry policies.
Claire Shotwell's column usually appears Fridays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at c.shotwell@cavalierdaily.com.
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