Concerns Of Concert Safety At The Abraham Chavez Theater
EL PASO, TX. – The house was rockin’Monday night when the band, “The Killers,” played to a packed Abraham Chavez Theater.
But was the theater prepared to handle such a crowd?ABC-7 reporter maria garcia tookcell phone pictures at the concertthatshow what appears to be chunks of the wall laying on the floor. Concert-goers say it was a wobbly balcony that caused the mess. ABC-7headed inside the theater Tuesday to find out how much of a danger that balcony poses.
The theater, according to city officials, was jam packedMonday night withstomping and dancing fans. The balcony in question is the flying balcony which is the third and uppermost level of the theater. Engineers say the amount of pressure caused by those dancing fans is to blame for the shift.
ABC-7 wastold by engineers that because the structure is made of steel, it is not uncommon for it tomove when excess weight is applied. As a matter of fact, engineers say, it is supposed to move to better absorb the pressure. Alan Shubert says although the building is over 30 years old and requires constant maintenance, he assures folks that the structure itself is sound and safe.
