Springsteen concert draws roughly 25,000 fans - Action News
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New Brunswick

Springsteen concert draws roughly 25,000 fans

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band didn't break any attendance records at its Sunday night concert in Moncton, but the estimated 25,000 fans basked in the warm, sunny weather.

Weather co-operates for show

Springsteen rocks Moncton

12 years ago
Duration 1:41
Roughly 25,000 fans packed inside the Magnetic Hill concert venue to listen to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on Aug 26.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band didn't break any attendance recordsat its Sunday night concert in Moncton,but the estimated 25,000 fans basked in the warm, sunny weather.

Springsteen played for three hours at the Magnetic Hill outdoor concert site and unlike the previous two concerts held there, fans were able to enjoy the show without any weather-related concerns.

During the U2concert in 2011, fanshad to deal with a field of mud created by heavy rains and there was a thunderstorm warning issued before the Nickelback concert in July.

Springsteen fansavoided similar weather issues on Sunday. The sunny weather not only made the concert more enjoyable for fans, it also attracted more fans.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played in front of an estimated 25,000 people on Sunday in Moncton. (CBC)

Doug MacDonald drove from Quispamsis and bought his ticket on Sunday afternoon.

MacDonald described himself as a "small" Springsteen fan. For him, he said, he wanted to enjoy the total Springsteen experience.

'It could have started snowing, we'd still be here.' Lillian Barnes, fan

"If it was raining we might not be here but, [it's a] beautiful day, sit out in the sun, have a littlebarbecue and some music it's great," he said.

"We were unsure and it really depended on the weather as much as anything."

Lillian Barnes is a different kind of Springsteen fan.

She's from Amherst and said she decided to come to the concert a long time ago. "The day the tickets went on sale.

"We would have been here regardless, it could have started snowing, we'd still be here," she said. "We sure do appreciate Bruce coming up to the Maritimes."

Traffic went 'smoothly'

Moncton had originally anticipated the Springsteen concert could draw the 70,000 fans that showed up for U2 a year ago.

But those estimates were dropped in recent weeks.

Still, the RCMP created a specialtraffic planfor the concert and are now seeking public feedback.

They have set up a 24-hour toll-free number for residents and concertgoers to call and offer comments between Monday at 6 p.m. and Tuesday at 6 p.m.

"With tens of thousands of people leaving the concert site at the same time, we felt that the traffic plan we had in place worked very well," said Cpl. Mike Gaudet.

"All of the roadways were completely re-opened and back to normal circulation by 12:20 a.m., and all went smoothly from a policing perspective," he said.

Six males and one female were arrested for public intoxication during the concert. All seven were released once sober, said Gaudet.

Police also issued a total of 22 fines of $172.50 for illegal possession of liquor during the concert, he said.