Traffic headaches created a lot of frustration for many attendees of the Paul McCartney concert Saturday in Winston-Salem.The original start time for the concert was 8 p.m. but was delayed, pushing the concert to start closer to 9 p.m.Several concert attendees contacted WXII 12 News following experiencing frustration with the traffic problem prior to the concert.”My wife and I sat in it for more than three hours trying to get to tonight’s Paul McCartney concert. WSPD and event staff dropped the ball and might not get all patrons parked prior to a delayed show beginning. Furthermore, they didn’t have enough general parking available for all concert goers,” TJ Lockwood wrote to WXII 12 News.Katelyn Henderson wrote similar concerns: “We waited for 3 hours for parking for the Paul McCartney concert in gridlocked traffic. Finally, (we) had to just drive home. The mismanagement of this event is appalling. We passed by several empty lots as we were funneled around. I can’t believe I paid over $1,000 for tickets and missed it.”Jim and Linda Stanford drove from the Raleigh area to attend Saturday’s concert. The couple says they watched the same traffic light, at Indiana Avenue and Patterson Avenue, go from red-to-green 15 times.Jim tells WXII 12 News when he spoke to Winston-Salem police at the event, they told him the city doesn’t have the infrastructure to handle events of this size. Jim said he and his wife will not be back to the Triad following tonight.”We’ve been to these big events where there are a hundred thousand people and we’ve never seen anything like this. It was just horrible. We sat at the corner of Indiana and Patterson for regarding 45 minutes just inching along to the red light. It’s been a nightmare,” Jim said.Saturday around 9:10 p.m., Winston-Salem police issued the following statement:The Winston-Salem Police Department is aware of the increased traffic in and around Truist Field (475 Deacon Bv) due to the Paul McCartney concert. Wake Forest University issued a press release earlier this week with information regarding the concert, to include increased traffic. Additionally, a thunderstorm came through the area, which caused delays in parking vehicles. Winston-Salem Police Department Officers will remain on scene and continue to address traffic issues throughout the duration of the concert.The department forwarded any questions, “concerning traffic issues,” to Wake Forest University.Officials from Wake Forest University issued the following statement Sunday followingnoon:Saturday’s Sir Paul McCartney Concert at Truist Field was a historic event for the Winston-Salem community and we appreciate the patience of the record-breaking crowd in the followingmath of a thunderstorm that caused some disruption in traffic patterns and the parking process.Wake Forest University appreciates the efforts of the Winston-Salem Police Department and the hard work and teamwork of all our local and state partners in safely producing this memorable event.On Wednesday, coliseum staff said Wake Forest University Athletic Department coordinated traffic efforts with North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Winston-Salem Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Winston-Salem Police Department. Coliseum staff said they added officers and messaging along Interstate 40, U.S. Highway 52 and U.S. Highway 421 into Winston-Salem.
Traffic headaches created a lot of frustration for many attendees of the Paul McCartney concert Saturday in Winston-Salem.
The original start time for the concert was 8 p.m. but was delayed, pushing the concert to start closer to 9 p.m.
Several concert attendees contacted WXII 12 News following experiencing frustration with the traffic problem prior to the concert.
“My wife and I sat in it for more than three hours trying to get to tonight’s Paul McCartney concert. WSPD and event staff dropped the ball and might not get all patrons parked prior to a delayed show beginning. Furthermore, they didn’t have enough general parking available for all concert goers,” TJ Lockwood wrote to WXII 12 News.
Katelyn Henderson wrote similar concerns: “We waited for 3 hours for parking for the Paul McCartney concert in gridlocked traffic. Finally, (we) had to just drive home. The mismanagement of this event is appalling. We passed by several empty lots as we were funneled around. I can’t believe I paid over $1,000 for tickets and missed it.”
Jim and Linda Stanford drove from the Raleigh area to attend Saturday’s concert. The couple says they watched the same traffic light, at Indiana Avenue and Patterson Avenue, go from red-to-green 15 times.
Jim tells WXII 12 News when he spoke to Winston-Salem police at the event, they told him the city doesn’t have the infrastructure to handle events of this size. Jim said he and his wife will not be back to the Triad following tonight.
“We’ve been to these big events where there are a hundred thousand people and we’ve never seen anything like this. It was just horrible. We sat at the corner of Indiana and Patterson for regarding 45 minutes just inching along to the red light. It’s been a nightmare,” Jim said.
Saturday around 9:10 p.m., Winston-Salem police issued the following statement:
The Winston-Salem Police Department is aware of the increased traffic in and around Truist Field (475 Deacon Bv) due to the Paul McCartney concert. Wake Forest University issued a press release earlier this week with information regarding the concert, to include increased traffic. Additionally, a thunderstorm came through the area, which caused delays in parking vehicles.
Winston-Salem Police Department Officers will remain on scene and continue to address traffic issues throughout the duration of the concert.
The department forwarded any questions, “concerning traffic issues,” to Wake Forest University.
Officials from Wake Forest University issued the following statement Sunday followingnoon:
Saturday’s Sir Paul McCartney Concert at Truist Field was a historic event for the Winston-Salem community and we appreciate the patience of the record-breaking crowd in the followingmath of a thunderstorm that caused some disruption in traffic patterns and the parking process.
Wake Forest University appreciates the efforts of the Winston-Salem Police Department and the hard work and teamwork of all our local and state partners in safely producing this memorable event.
On Wednesday, coliseum staff said Wake Forest University Athletic Department coordinated traffic efforts with North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Winston-Salem Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Winston-Salem Police Department. Coliseum staff said they added officers and messaging along Interstate 40, U.S. Highway 52 and U.S. Highway 421 into Winston-Salem.
