A storm that hit Regina couldn’t have come at a worse time for Evraz Place, as legions of Garth Brooks fans were in the middle of filing into Mosaic Stadium.
“The challenge with that is we have people at bus stops, we have people in parking lots, we have people in the stadium, we have people walking to the stadium,” Tim Reid, president and CEO of Regina Exhibition Association Limited, said during The Greg Morgan Morning Show on Monday.
Reid said according to the association’s storm protocol, officials must make a decision on whether to provide shelter when a storm cell is within 15 kilometres of Evraz Place.
However, hundreds were stuck outside where shuttle buses were picking up concert-goers.
While the association was certain about the conditions near the stadium, Reid said officials were less sure about those at the pickup points so they grounded the shuttles.
“What we don’t want to do is have people in the parking lot, surrounded by fairly tall steel structures and in a position of risk,” he said.
“One of the concerns we heard a lot about was it was hot on the buses and so those that were paused on a bus somewhere, it was equally as much of a frustration.”
About 5,000 people were sheltered inside the Brandt Centre and AffinityPlex.
Zamboni guy entertaining us while we wait out storm. #skstorm #garthbrooks #thethunderrolls pic.twitter.com/qp19sQdsq6
— Mark Bratrud (@markbratrud) August 10, 2019
While inside, they were entertained by the driver of an ice resurfacer.
“Adam is his name. He has been an employee since 2013. He was flooding the ice, getting ready for an upcoming (Regina) Pats season, which is probably not the glamorous of tasks, just literally putting water down,” Reid said.
“All of a sudden, 5,000 people showed up and he took advantage of it. He took it upon himself to make the best of a tough situation, entertain the fans and everybody responded. That was probably the best Zamboni moment in Canada.”
According to Reid, the response to weather on Friday will be reviewed, but he said he was proud of the staff.