A new report from the Texas Task Force on Concert Safety published Tuesday offered insights and takeaways from the November 5 tragedy at Travis Scott’s 2021 Astroworld Festival, Rolling Stone reports. The group, formed by Gov. Greg Abbott days after a crowd rush resulted in the deaths of 10 people, cited an inconsistent permitting process across Texas and lack of event security training and communication as contributing factors to the tragedy.
The findings in the task force’s report outlined five points for improvement. The lengthiest section of the report focused on event permitting rules within unincorporated areas of Texas. The report cited a lack of an occupancy load permit. “A consistent permitting process could have helped established jurisdiction and authority over ultimate event shutdown in the face of a life-threatening incident,” the report reads. The task force recommended a universal permitting template.
Another central piece of the task force’s report was the need for Unified Command and Control (UCC): “The ultimate function of a centralized on-site command and control group is to establish authority and process for pausing or canceling a show in response to a safety incident.” They also recommended requiring training for all event security, planning practices with risk management in mind, and a centralized hub for the kinds of resources outlined in the report. The task force is comprised of music industry, law enforcement, and event safety experts.
Weeks after the event ended, the medical examiner ruled that the 10 people died of compression asphyxia. In December, the House Oversight and Reform Committee announced an investigation of Live Nation over the promoter’s role in the tragedy. The rapper and Live Nation are facing multiple lawsuits. Scott recently started the process of returning to the public eye, performing at afterparties and seemingly teasing a new album with billboards.
Scott addressed the tragedy once again in March with the formation of Project HEAL, a philanthropic investment endeavor that includes an event safety initiative. “My team and I created Project HEAL to take much needed action towards supporting real solutions that make all events the safest spaces they can possibly be,” Scott wrote. “I will always honor the victims of the Astroworld tragedy who remain in my heart forever.” The project’s announcement was met with sharp criticism from the grandparents of 9-year-old Astroworld victim Ezra Blount.
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