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SALT LAKE CITY -- Opening night for Salt Lake City's popular Twilight Concert Series proved to be even more popular than expected.
Over 40,000 people filled the usually quiet Pioneer Park Thursday night -- double the number that fits inside EnergySolutions Arena. While many were excited about the turnout, others say it was dangerous.
People just got caught in this huge mosh pit. They're lucky someone didn't get killed.
–Rich Patonai, concert-goer
The event's featured group, Modest Mouse, is a popular band. Throw in the word "free," and you're sure to get a crowd. But no one anticipated the tens of thousands that showed -- and that's just counting the people who actually got inside the gate.
"In 23 years, we've never turned anybody away," Twilight director Casey Jarman said. "So last night was the first night we turned the audience back."
Jarman believes the change in venue from the Gallivan Center to the park, combined with the headliner, added excitement to the series opener. He said they planned for around 30,000 and were thrilled by the turnout.
Not everyone enjoyed the new environment, though.
"People just got caught in this huge mosh pit. They're lucky someone didn't get killed," said Rich Patonai, who was at Thursday night's concert.
Patonai said he and his wife were nearly run over by the crowd.
Videos posted on YouTube show standing room only; one captured video of concert-goers climbing trees in the park.
"All you need is something to set somebody stampeding with people; and the bodies that were there, you've stood a significant chance of somebody getting stepped on," Patonai said.
Despite the crowd, Salt Lake City police reported no significant problems related to the concert. Jarman said concert organizers are going to increase security for next week's concert.
"Safety first, comfort second," he said, "and hopefully the two of them are just right on the same page."
Others who hope for as big a turnout next week include the owners of Bruges Waffles and Frites, located just across the street from Pioneer Park. They sold out of sandwiches Thursday night.
"It was great! It was really great!" said Frederic Bosteels, of Bruges Waffles and Frites.
Jarman said he doesn't expect nearly as many people for upcoming concerts. Modest Mouse was their biggest act.
But the director advises anyone coming down for next week to come early, because if they do get a big crowd again, they'll have to turn people away.
E-mail: jstagg@ksl.com
