TWEETER CENTER DISTORTION
The Three Year Wrap-Up
Home
The Report
The TC Image -- You Decide!
UPDATE '03: Security
The Three Year Wrap-Up
Why This Site... Why Not Meet
Meeting The Chief
Signs, Signs, Everywhere
Parking Lot Photos
Discussion
More Toilets
Like Woodstock, Man!
Recommendations
Big Bro, Where Art Thou?
UPDATE '03: Big Bro & 495
Matters Made Worse
Some Final Thoughts
About Man Alive

"Great Storms Announce Themselves With A Gentle Breeze"

Starting  From

The End

 

 

In all, the more that things change throughout the world,

the more that they relatively regress at the Tweeter Center

parking lots which have not changed.

 

 

 

Remember the musical game show where the winning contestant guessed songs after hearing the least number of notes?  If you do, to carry forth the analogy, I predict that I could undo the Tweeter Center parking lots with One Note (step) in areas described below.**  This number may win a game show, but it would result in severe losses for the Center, its sponsors, and the Town of Mansfield.

 

Three concert seasons ago, I had a last minute opportunity to see the Black Crows at the Tweeter Center.  It was my first visit there.   I was disturbed at the blatant public urination and suggestive, indecent exposures... so angered that I began a report which I presented to the Chief of Police in draft form!  The tragic incidents of 9/11 and of a dear friend's grave illness prevented the completion of my self-funded report by the '01 concert season's end.  So, in 02, I returned, numerous times as I also did during the '03 year.  I have returned in '04 to confirm or disavow '03 observations... Though seven porta-john have been added, I could still "breach" the access road.   What was to be an open-and-shut, three-to-five page report has become a longitudinal study of broader issues.

 

 

Now, its time to wrap the study, for there's nothing more to be observed. 

It's time for responsible people to take action.

 

Imagine all the change which have occurred since "The Crow's" Concert in June 2001!

9/11... War in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The Patriot Act... Heightened awareness of terrorism.  Special funding for police and fire departments.  Man... the Patriots even won the Super Bowl!   Plus their new stadium was completed and renamed from CMGI to Gillette. Also, of course, The Black Crows disbanded.  Indeed, it has been a world of change.

 

And yet,

nothing significant has changed at the Tweeter Center

since I wrote my first words! 

 

Actually, regarding all of the other terror related changes, one could argue that the Tweeter Center slid backwards, for as I point out elsewhere, The Center's back lot security is abysmal considering the juicy target which a large confined crowd and a national entertainment act collectively presents.   

 

Consider this, The 2003 Jimmy Buffett Concert... the annual pilgrimage for parrotheads from all over:  This is a musical cult following that is best described by the artist's signature song, "Wasting Away In Margaritaville."  Just where is Margaritaville?  Well, one could argue that it is anywhere there is a bottle of tequila and lost shaker of salt.  But, were I pressed to put a physical location to Margaritaville, it would have to be Key West, FL, this country's southern most city just a spit from Guantanamo, Cuba, where this nation is holding terrorist / prisoners of war.  Frankly, a Jimmy Buffett concert fits, more-than-most, the "high profile" classification which attracts attack, as it represents this nation's closest physical proximity to war (save the Shoe Bomber) and emotionally proximity to a casual, "No Problem" attitude that existed prior to 9:15 AM on 9/11.

 

Still, after testing, discussing, and even publishing in this website my ability to walk, at will (prior to purposely showing my self at a guard station) the entire area behind the amphitheater during Lollapalooza...  I, wearing white pants, once again strolled onto the back access roads and spent about 30 minutes, suspiciously walking plus darting in and out of the lights and shadows during the evening Buffett concert without being stopped...  and obviously, not being monitored! 

 

Am I Chicken Little?  Or, am I Right-On?  Is this not a vulnerability (it's not a breach because the area remains unsecured) from which terrorist chaos could reign?  One can't say that this could never happen.  It did; the two planes that hit the WTC left from Boston.  Having twice found myself ALONE to do what I pleased, I view the exterior Tweeter Center security -- all components -- akin to home owners peering through their doubly-locked, front door peep-hole while the back door remains wide open.

 

Leaving the Buffett Concert in '03, I realized that after three years, about 25 visits, hundreds of miles walking the the lots, casual discussions, and even a more confronting presence in '03, nothing had changed... not even the Sani-Kans, or public urination.  I decided then, but not knowing when (for there always have been events that would interrupt or foreshadow this report), that it was time to "officially" release this report. 

 

Other Matters:

 

FIRE DETAILS & POLE MARKERS:

Inherent in tailgating are open fires around thousands of gallons of gas contained in vehicle tanks.   For all the times and hours that I have been to the Center, I've but once seen a fire detail patroling.  This was at  Lollapalooza, when I saw the forest fire truck checking fire lanes at 7:00 PM... and, this was my first sighting of the truck during this event day which started at noon.  As one would expect, fire lanes were closed by both parking attendants' misjudgements and drivers parking after the attendants moved on to the next lot..  Fire details should be present with the parking staff for large crowd events and continually patrol to assure that fire lanes remain open.  At the '03 Buffett Concert, there was an Engine Company pumper placed in front of the amphitheater entrance, but in my continuous travels,  I saw neither it, the forest truck, or uniformed fire details walking the tightly packed lots, which were all made more dangerous by the numerous portable gasoline containers for generators. "Event EMTs", a private company, did patrol the lots and were visable.  But, what do they know about fire... they are not firefighter EMTs!...   POLES MARKERS:  Also, lot numbers on poles should be lowered and given a second letter designation such as 13A, 13B, etc.  Where a 4 minute delay leads to brain damage, a 911 call from a cell phone in the larger lots could be fail to bring a timely response.  The lots remind me of a call to the Coast Guard that came over my marine radio.  CALLER:  "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, I need your help!"  COAST GUARD:  "Where are you?"  CALLER: "I don't know." COAST GUARD: " If you don't know, how are we suppose to help?"  Enough said.

 

DRINKING:

I have no problem with adults drinking in event parking lots.  Tailgating at outdoor events, characterized by long delays in entering and exiting the venue, is a part of the fun.  However, there are signs in place, which state that by Town ordinance, drinking is prohibited.  True, suspected minors get carded by the police, who also will tell adults to leave the bottles and drink from cups.  Hold on a minute!  The police are to enforce laws not waiver it!  And if the unrealistic ordinance is continually waived, what is the effect of this permanency?   Who is responsible if a drunken fight breaks out?  The fighters of course!   But, how about the Town of Mansfield for waiving its own ordinance?  Is the Town an accomplice?   I don't know.  Hopefully, a solicitor, who has a favorable ruling in the top drawer, does! 

 

PORTA-POTTIES & PUBLIC URINATION:

This topic is simple.  NO ONE GIVES A S - - - !  PERIOD.  And they haven't since I first reported this matter.  Apparently, this is not a problem worthy of anyone's attention; it's just a part of  "doin' the "Tweeter  Thing."   I contend that there are  public heath violations for which the Town and Center are culpable, despite any codes, of which the insuffiency is visible through the pictures of pottie lines shown within.  For example, since this report was first drafted, only one new can was added in Parking lots C&D and at that it was isolated between parked vehicles so that it could not be maintained during the Buffett event.  The only significant change has been to the Centers new $30.00 lot where there are six Kans for a few hundred cars.  For all these reasons, I have added the fairly explicit page

 

"How Does The Tweeter Center Want To Be Viewed?"

 

The Town of Mansfield should mandate that permanent restrooms with wash water -- hot and cold -- be required in permanent parking lots.  What is code inside the Tweeter turnstiles, should be code outside... Moverover, as there is  common knowledge of the existing porta-toilet deficiency and of the drinking crowd's need for quick relief for which they rely on "The Great Woods," there should be detail police monitoring the lots that this is done in the woods, not on the way to the woods or in the parking lots. (Isn't public urination and exposure against the law in Mansfield?)  Though I recognize that this enforcement would officially acknowledge the toilet problem  -- and open all those associated with it to the possibility of being liable for patrons hurt/attacked in the woods -- I also maintain that this enforcement has more to do than with just physical injury and decency; it also has to do with preventing what could be considered sexually harassing behavior in front of patrons, vendors and employees for which Tweeter Center Management / Clear Channel has "case tested," ultimate responsibility.

Cha-Ching!

 

It's perplexing.  NO, IT'S MIND-BOGGLING why Tweeter would want their upscale image presented in this way... ditto for upscale Bose, WBZ and others.  Their gain through sponsorship, especially since the parking lots are free of ads, is NOT WORTH THE BRAND IMAGE DISFIGUREMENT AND POTENTIAL LIABILITY.    V.I.P. treatment and other perks considered, the risks currently outstrip the rewards. It's far safer to just buy tickets for promtional and award purposes.  In short, this paradoxical risk/reward situation is a Harvard MBA case study in the making! 

 

NOTICE AND TAKE NOTICE:

It is recommended that the Center hand out written notices of acceptable behaviors. I've never seen/received one, EXCEPT at my last visit during which I was presented a notice about RV owners being prohibited from extending their side awnings so as not to take up space.  ARE YOU KIDDING?  With porta-pottie lines 24 patrons deep and other patrons peeing within sight... with a security staffer's rationale being that the only reason to patrol the road behind the amphitheater was to prevent gate-crashers... plus with fire and police not being responsible for the road.. and with all of the above mentioned vulnerabilities, I found the RV awning handout to be hilarious.  And, it indicates to me that the Tweeter Center was not only clueless in the matters mentioned in my first started simple report, but is more so three concert seasons latter.

 

Persons "in charge," whoever they are, should take notice.  This study and web report, which is validated through photos and first-hand accounts, is that notice. Some visitors may view this site as the "Gentle Breeze"... others as the "Great Storm."  Regardless, my observations are irrefutable. 

 

Finally, and in what may seem to be inconguent with the tenor of my words,  I have enjoyed all -- yes all -- the people with whom I have spoken, from the elderly beer can recycling entrepreneurs on up.  Also, I have observed that everyone, especially the police with their appropriate touch, involved with the parking lots do certain things very well. 

 

However, in matters of critical importance

regarding security, decency, plus legal and image/publicity exposures,

I rate the Tweeter Center parking lots an "all fault" F. 

 

Based on the One Note analogy with which I began this Wrap Up...

numerous, indentifiable, calamity scenarios can be realized in

One Simple Step. 

 

Were I the executive or a committee-person on which this reality must rest... I'd need a Sani-Kan (for which of course there wouldn't be a timely one nearby)!

 

Fortunately, I'm just a peace-loving guy who got invited to a Crows concert at the last minute.

 

Enjoy your visit to my site.  I welcome your comments, challenges, explanations and even rationalizations.  I'm confident with my report and other insights which have not been published for security reasons.  

 

Johnny

 

 

 Just one of many applicable side-notes regarding sponsorship:

 

The Risks of Sponsorship

 

Civil lawyers subpoena Derderians' company, Anheuser-Busch
Jul 30, 10:34

 

(Providence-AP) -- Attorneys involved in civil suits stemming from The Station fire have subpoenaed representatives from six companies including Derco L-L-C and Anheuser-Busch Incorporated.

 

The subpoenas order the companies to appear next month at attorney Patrick Jones' law office with documents relating to the club.

 

Jones and other attorneys representing victims' families and survivors of the February fire are trying to build a case against product manufacturers and others.

 

Anheuser-Busch has been ordered to appear August 14th with contracts, agreements and other documents regarding advertising and marketing at The Station.

 

Derco attorneys have been asked to bring documents relating to the purchase or installation of foam at the club. Derco is the company of club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian.

 

The other companies subpoenaed are: local beer distributor McLaughlin and Moran; music company Strawberries Incorporated; radio station WHJY Incorporated and Manic Music Management

 

.
.
.

Sponsorship...
jdsvesoundgalfacingtight90croppedflipped.jpg
More Than Advertising?

** Please don't send the FBI!  If I ever wanted to create chaos, I could have already done so.  And don't get annoyed.  This study is a FREEBIE... a costly, multi-year, self-sponsored observation, valued at $100K  which will hopefully produce an awareness and call for action before anything more serious happens, such as a multi-million dollar, lawsuit judgement against several parties.   In short... it's a bargain!  Johnny

jhhbestorrhatgrey160cropped1.jpg