VIDEO: Post Malone Edmonton concert cancelled by wild thunderstorm

A powerful thunderstorm in Edmonton forced the Post Malone concert at Commonwealth Stadium to end early on Saturday night.

Concertgoers eager to see Post Malone and Jelly Roll were forced to take shelter inside the stadium concourse as fierce winds, sideways rain and hail pelted the stadium.

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Sheri Ebert from sister stations Rock 102 and Jack 94.5 was there.

She said she had initially travelled to Edmonton to see a comedian but was able to grab some last-minute tickets to the concert.

“We didn’t even think about getting rain ponchos or anything because we’re here on vacation and didn’t really check the weather forecast,” Ebert said.

“Lots of other fans had been expecting a bit of a storm. We started to feel some raindrops, and fans were putting on their ponchos and getting ready. Then Post Malone came out and started to perform.

“The sky, meanwhile, was turning a crazy shade of gray. (Post Malone) was then told by his team that he had to leave the stage because of the lightning. Then there was an announcement over the loudspeaker telling us we should all go to the concourse for cover during a rain delay,” she said.

Once they made their way to the concourse, Ebert said they quickly realized it would do very little to help.

“It was torrential wind and rain, and then hail. We were standing in ankle-deep water. People’s hats were blowing off. People were crying.

“We weren’t really scared because we felt like, ‘OK, this is just a summer storm.’ But for some other folks, alcohol was involved and they were pretty terrified during a couple of those moments as the hail was coming down,” Ebert said.

“Picture thousands of people who thought they were going to a country concert and how they’re dressed in their summer finery: tank tops, tube tops, short shorts and cowboy boots. Then they’re being pelted with M&M-sized hail and torrential rain. They were shrieking. It was like a disaster movie. Everyone was absolutely soaked. Even the poncho people — it didn’t help them.”

After about 20 minutes of wild weather, she said the gates were opened and fans were able to start making their way home.

Despite a somewhat scary and disappointing night, Ebert said there was a silver lining.

“At first we thought, ‘You know what? That was a waste of a couple hundred dollars.’ But first thing this morning, we got an email from Ticketmaster saying our tickets would be refunded.

“I think that was probably the artists’ decision. It’s cool that Post Malone and Jelly Roll decided to refund everybody’s money because they probably didn’t have to do that,” Ebert said.

— with files from CKOM’s Roman Hayter

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