Coldplay plays at Levi's Stadium blowing past curfew, reviving debate
SANTA CLARA. Azenith Smith/Allie Rasmus -
Some 50,000 fans were on hand for the Coldplay concert on Wednesday at Levi’s Stadium amid a curfew controversy over how late the band can play. The band well past the 10 p.m. curfew ending at 11 p.m.
Pop rock band Coldplay hit the stage just before 9 p.m. It’s a return visit to Levi’s Stadium after performing in Santa Clara last September. This time the band performed on a weeknight.
And councilwoman Kathy Watanbe told KTVU Thursday morning that she heard a lot of complaints. “Tens of thousands of residents are affected,” she said. “I received text messages, saw complaints on Next Door, there were people complaining about traffic and noise. They could hear the concert through their windows.”
The city can fine the 49ers $750, but most people realize that’s not a lot of money for the NFL team.
“It’s not about money but about promises made,” Watanbe said. She added that over the next six months, the city will be surveying the community on whether or not they want to amend the current curfew.
Some concert goers, however, loved the concert and loved that they got to stay up late to hear Coldplay.
“It’s just a fun night to have the music and have a good time together,” said Ulrike Trouche of Germany.
Trouche along with other fans don't want the show to suddenly end because of a 10 p.m. curfew.
“It’s a stadium,” said Trouche. “If you live here, I think you have to be aware there will be some noise.”
“If you have any opening act and the concert starts at 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. how do you end it at 10 o'clock?” said Chuck Carvis of Concord.
Coldplay’s performance comes a week after the 49ers made their case to extend the weeknight concert curfew, saying big names are backing out including pop singer Ed Sheeran and recently another artist the 49ers won't name. The 49ers said it’s costing the city $800,000 to its general fund
The 49ers issued a statement that said:
“Because our top priority is the safety of our guests, we will defer to the local enforcement and public safety authorities to determine all matters related to abruptly stopping a show with tens of thousands of people present.”
The 49ers said they won't book any more weekday concerts just on weekends when the curfew is 11 p.m.
For its part, the police said officers are there simply to make sure the event is safe, not to monitor a curfew.
“We aren't stopping any show,” said Lt. Dan Moreno of Santa Clara Police. “We are going to stay here until the concert is done, until everyone has left.”
Kevin Gordon, who lives nearby, wishes concert goers would go home much earlier.
“This is a family area,” he said. “Most of the people have children who go to bed early at night.”
Gordon lives right behind Levi’s Stadium. He stands behind city leaders saying the 49ers should stick to the rule, calling it a matter of principle not money.
“I’m not concerned about whether them losing money,” said Gordon. “I’m concerned about them keeping their word in their original agreement.”