A shortage of police and a lack of time to prepare for an 8,000 to 10,000-person event are the reasons the City of St. Albert has denied dubstep artist Skrillex a development permit.
Consequently, the concert, announced last month for July 20 as part of Skrillex's Full Flex Express train tour, will not be held in St. Albert, even though tickets have already been sold. In a news release issued Sunday, promoter The Union blamed Mayor Nolan Crouse and the city for prompting a relocation of the concert to Edmonton.
“After disparaging comments were made numerous times via Twitter by Mayor Crouse, the City of St. Albert remained unwilling to meet with representatives of our company to discuss the concerns they had about the event, and our proposed solutions,” the release read.
According to Chris Jardine, general manager of community and protective services, St. Albert does not have enough police officers for an event of such magnitude.
“The bottom line is we didn't have enough time to effectively put the resources in place that we would have to,” Jardine said. “The one that trumped everything else is policing resources.”
Jardine said the concert, scheduled for the Kinsmen rodeo grounds, would have required a minimum 37 officers to safely police. That represents approximately 75 per cent of the St. Albert detachment's total complement. The city would have to find other officers from Strathcona County or Stony Plain, but Jardine said there simply wasn't enough time.
“That takes time to do because they are going through their own summers,” Jardine said.
While St. Albert does have experience with large events, such as the International Children's Festival and the Rainmaker Rodeo, attendance at those events does not compare to the estimated 10,000 individuals anticipated for the Skrillex concert.
“I know it's unprecedented. There are other events we hold, but they pale in magnitude to this event's potential,” Jardine said.
There are also issues of traffic control, which would be difficult to accommodate, whether it is finding enough parking or co-ordinating park and ride services with St. Albert Transit.
“I know people were saying that St. Albert Transit can't do it. That's a red herring,” Jardine said. “It would have been up to the promoter to figure out the arrangements with them.”
Speaking with reporters during a tour of Aurora Place, Habitat for Humanity's build in St. Albert, Mayor Nolan Crouse declined comment. But Coun. Cathy Heron said council was never asked to make a decision.
“The situation is it never came to council. It was an administrative decision,” Heron said.
“We never had to make a decision.”
Heron said she'd heard different opinions from residents. Some were concerned about the potential for noise, as well as alcohol and drug-related problems, but people in the 25 to 30 demographic were supportive of the concert.
Ultimately, Heron said, St. Albert just isn't ready.
“There was also support from just the community in general to make St. Albert more of a highlight, a destination for those kinds of concerts,” she said. “And maybe when we're ready, we would entertain the idea.”
The Union news release pointed out St. Albert would be missing out on the potential benefits of hosting the concert.
“Despite the cultural benefit to its citizens, hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic influx, and tens of thousands of dollars in proceeds to support the St. Albert Kinsmen, the City of St. Albert has made the unfortunate decision to deny the necessary permit,” the release read.
It also states that tickets will remain on sale while details with the new venue are finalized. Anyone who won't be able to attend due to the change in location can arrange for a full refund at the point of purchase.
