TD Garden Cited For Underage Drinking After Avicii Concert Incident
BOSTON (CBS) – The TD Garden has been cited for underage drinking after dozens of people were rushed to the hospital from an Avicii concert Wednesday night for problems with drinking, drug use, and heat in the arena.
The city's Department of Consumer Affairs and Licensing issued the violation citing numerous intoxicated underage patrons found at the concert.
Garden officials said they had taken precautions at the concert including restricting alcohol sales, adding security and providing two cooling off areas for guests.
Boston EMS says that 36 young men and women were taken to local hospitals and another 50 people were treated inside the Garden where Avicii, a Grammy-nominated Swedish disc jockey, was performing.
No one was arrested and there were no life-threatening injuries. Everyone transported and treated appeared to be between 16 and 25 years old, according to Boston EMS.
Mayor Marty Walsh said Thursday he plans to meet with Garden officials as well as the city's Licensing Board and Police Commissioner William Evans to discuss the incident.
The mayor said he asked immediately if a particular drug might have been involved but he was told it is still unclear.
"It's kind of odd that that many kids would have to go to the hospital with alcohol," Walsh said. "So I'm thinking there's something more to it. It certainly concerns me."
Not everyone was fazed by the incidents Wednesday night. Outside the Garden after the concert, one woman who attended told WBZ-TV she was expecting it to be "a lot crazier."
One mother at the Garden Wednesday night to pick up her kids called the situation "any parent's worst nightmare."
TD Garden officials Thursday released a statement on the incident.
"We take this incident very seriously and our thoughts are with the affected guests and their families.
"We implemented increased precautions such as restricted alcohol sales, additional security and provided two cooling off areas for guests, in addition to the building maintained at normal temperature.
"We continued our proactive policy to identify impaired guests, bring them to first aid for medical evaluation and transport when necessary. By following our policy, half of the affected guests were identified prior to entering the arena and were immediately treated."
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