A three-act rock concert Saturday night at Saratoga Performing Arts Center was called off due to a bomb threat just before the beginning of the headline set by Noah Gallagher’s High Flying Birds via Times Union.
It has come to light that the state Park Police, which has jurisdiction over the SPAC grounds, issued a statement Sunday morning saying:
“New York State Park Police, New York State Police, city of Saratoga Springs police, Troy police, and Saratoga Co. sheriff’s department responded to a bomb threat at Saratoga Performing Arts Center Saturday. Out of an abundance of caution, the concert was suspended at 9:40 p.m. Saturday and concert attendees were evacuated without incident. K9s completed a sweep of the venue after the crowd exited, with negative results.”
After silence from both SPAC and promoter LiveNation for more than 12 hours after the show’s cancellation, SPAC CEO Elizabeth Sobol released a statement Sunday afternoon:
“The safety and security of our guests, staff and performers is our utmost priority. We are grateful for the collaborative effort among Live Nation staff, and the state Park Police, State Police, county and city police and sheriff teams for their professionalism, vigilance, and continued attention to security measures at our venue. After giving the all clear last night, today’s show will continue as planned,” Sobol wrote.
Information about refunds was not immediately available. Kidz Bop was scheduled to play late Sunday afternoon — although the incoming thunderstorms might present their own impediment.
Jim Shahen, who was reviewing the concert for the Times Union, said that after the first two acts, Metric and Garbage, played their sets as planned, an announcement was made from the stage around 10 p.m. — roughly 20 minutes after Gallagher had been scheduled to begin — that due to “circumstances beyond our control, the show will not continue. We ask that you please move calmly, safely to the nearest main gate exit.”
A message projected on the screen was even more urgent: “ATTENTION! At this time, we will need to evacuate the venue. We ask that you calmly proceed to the nearest EXIT. Please follow directions of staff and police officers. For the safety of everyone, please do NOT rush or push. Thank you for your cooperation.”
