Alfonsina Russo, director of the Colosseum Archeological Park, has asked musicians to not perform at Circus Maximus, a historic stadium, nearby the Roman landmark. Russo’s comments come after Travis Scott‘s performance at the stadium earlier this week triggered fears of an earthquake.
According to CNN, Rome’s fire service received “hundreds of calls” from locals worried about an earthquake after feeling the ground shake during Scott’s Monday show. Residents even took to social media to figure out what was happening, with many asking if anyone in the area felt an earthquake.
A Rome-based CNN report confirmed with local police that what locals felt wasn’t due to natural causes; it was thanks to the tens of thousands of people jumping up and down at Scott’s performance at Circus Maximus. The frenzy only intensified after the rapper introduced a special surprise guest performer: Kanye “Ye” West. Ye’s appearance marks the first time the Yeezus rapper has performed since sparking controversy for his antisemitic comments.
Rome’s civil protection department confirmed to CNN that a concertgoer sprayed pepper spray into the crowd during the show, resulting in over 60 people needing medical attention. Additionally, a 14-year-old who climbed a fake wall to see the show for free was injured after falling 13 feet.
Following the drama, Russo demanded performances at the Circus Maximus, an ancient Roman chariot-racing and entertainment venue, be a thing of the past. The stadium is a grassy oval arena that does not have seating for visitors, which forces audiences to stand on the flat surface or sit on the outer edges.
“The Circus Maximus is a monument. It is not a stadium, not a concert hall,” she told AGI, an Italian news outlet.
She explained, “These mega rock concerts put it at risk, including the Palatine Hill nearby,” and “should be held in stadiums so as not to endanger public safety.”
Russo said only opera and ballets should occur at Circus Maximus, per CNN.
Russo’s announcement comes after Scott’s Utopia concert at the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, scheduled for July 28, was canceled due to “complex production issues,” Blavity previously reported. According to CNN, 70,000 tickets for the show were sold within hours.