Travis Scott’s concert at the ancient Circus Maximus ruins resulted in 60 injuries after someone sprayed pepper spray into the crowd.
Travis Scott’s “Utopia” concert at the Circus Maximus ruins, the ancient Roman chariot racing and entertainment venue, was announced with short notice on August 1, after his show at the Pyramids of Giza scheduled for July 28 was canceled over “complex production issues.” Within hours, the 70,000 tickets sold out.
But the director of the nearby Roman Colosseum has called for an end to concerts held at Circus Maximus after the Italian fire service received “hundreds of calls” from concerned residents who feared there was an earthquake, in addition to at least 60 injuries unrelated to the earthquake concerns.
CNN confirmed the shaking resulted from tens of thousands of people jumping up and down during Travis Scott’s performance — especially after Scott introduced surprise guest Kanye West in his first public appearance following his tirade of antisemitic comments.
Additionally, at least 60 people required medical attention during the concert after someone sprayed pepper spray into the crowd. According to Rome’s civil protection department, a 14-year-old who scaled a false wall to see the show for free was injured after falling 13 feet.
Alfonsina Russo, director of the head of the Colosseum Archeological Park, is now calling for an end to performances at the Circus Maximus, requesting only opera and ballets to be staged at the arena.
“The Circus Maximus is a monument. It is not a stadium, not a concert hall,” Russo told Italian news service AGI. “These mega rock concerts put it at risk, including the Palatine Hill nearby,” she said. “Rock concerts should be held in stadiums so as not to endanger public safety.”
The Circus Maximus is situated at the bottom of the Palatine Hill near the Colosseum and features a grassy oval arena with no seating. The monument has become a popular concert venue in recent years, hosting Bruce Springsteen, Guns N Roses, and Imagine Dragons this summer.
