Deal Made With Fans After Storms Disrupt Halsey Concert, Cause Chaos In Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — In an email sent to customers, Merriweather Post Pavilion issued an apology and offered a way to make amends that its organizers hope will mend fences after the chaos that ensued before the Halsey concert.

More than 13,000 fans packed the pavilion to see Halsey perform recently, but the weather had other plans. Just a few songs into the opening act, a tornado warning was issued for Howard County. People sought safety in bathrooms at the pavilion, which were packed with children and adults according to a video shared by Twitter user Faith. Others made a mad dash to their vehicles to try and wait it out because the concert hadn't been canceled at that point.

The rain fell fast and hard, flooding the pavilion. Water ran like rivers down stairwells, prompting people to stand on railings and seats. At the Halsey concert, Twitter user Ben Kelkis shared a video of concertgoers trudging through ankle-deep floodwater and electric cords covered with floodwater that people were walking through.

Many people expressed anger on the venue's Facebook page and on personal Twitter pages that the concert was not canceled when the tornado warning was issued let alone when the flood warning took hold, and ticket refunds offered at that time of the warnings instead of waiting until later in the evening after several concert delays and a final concert cancellation.

Halsey took to Twitter and said that "…it would have been SO unsafe if I went out there and people rushed the stage during or after the storm. A lot of things were out of my control tonight but I promise everything I COULD choose, I chose your safety."

She also tweeted that she was upset with how Merriweather handled the events of the evenings.

"I really want to add that I am beyond disappointed with the way the venue handled everything tonight and my rescheduled date will be happening somewhere else. I hear you guys loud and clear I promise," she wrote.

Other concertgoers were disappointed in an individual either with the tour or employed by the pavilion kicking a squirrel off the stage into flood water, which can be seen in this tweeted video.

In an email sent to customers that was obtained by WMAR, Merriweather expressed regret for all that transpired that evening that was within the facility's control. It read:

"Yes that was horrible.

For us and for you.

For us, because we hate hearing about people coming to our place and not feeling great about it.

For you...well...that's pretty obvious, and we are majorly sorry.

We can't control the weather and we all thought the show was going to go on, which is why we kept saying so.

We are always looking at what we could have done better, but if you could tell us specifically your bad experience with our staff or suggestions on how you think it should've been handled differently, we will listen and discuss internally every single comment."

Continued to say that "It will be a wasted opportunity if we do not learn from our mistakes."

"Thanks and sorry this turned out how it did."

Merriweather organizers also shared that they've set aside 1,000 lawn tickets for every upcoming show where possible. In addition to refunding tickets to all Halsey concertgoers, they're offering a free lawn ticket for each Halsey ticket a customer purchased on a first come, first served basis.

Be sure to check your inbox for this email if this applies to you.