Brad Paisley Concerts

State fire marshal wary of WVU event plans

West Virginia University wants to have 7,000 fans on Mountaineer Field for a Brad Paisley concert later this year, but the state fire marshal says that's double the number allowed given WVU's plans for the event.

WVU wants to put the stage in front of the tunnels players use to enter the stadium, Fire Marshal Sterling Lewis said.

"Of course, those tunnels are major exits off of the field in case of an emergency," Lewis said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "So, when you start blocking those off, you start choking down your crowd exiting."

Based on fire code, Lewis said his office believes it would be safe to have only 3,500 people on the field with the stage at that location.

Lewis would allow for more people on the field if the stage were placed somewhere else. But, for reasons that were not clear, WVU appears reluctant to move it and is sending two officials to Charleston this week to plead its case.

"They appear to be adamant that they don't want to move the stage anywhere else," Lewis said.

If the stage is positioned in the center of the field or on the side without tunnels, it's possible that 7,000 people could fit on the field, he said. No matter what happens, tens of thousands of other fans could still sit in the stadium like they do at football games.

Still, WVU officials now plan to argue their case and try to get more people on the field.

Lewis said he talked with Narvel Weese, WVU's vice president for Administration and Finance, on the phone this week. He said Weese told him the university would be sending representatives Thursday.

"He just said it would be their 'technical people,' whoever that might be," Lewis said. "I hope they can teach us something."

Lewis often hears from property owners asking to circumvent maximum occupancy rules.

West Virginia University wants to have 7,000 fans on Mountaineer Field for a Brad Paisley concert later this year, but the state fire marshal says that's double the number allowed given WVU's plans for the event.

WVU wants to put the stage in front of the tunnels players use to enter the stadium, Fire Marshal Sterling Lewis said.

"Of course, those tunnels are major exits off of the field in case of an emergency," Lewis said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "So, when you start blocking those off, you start choking down your crowd exiting.

Brad Paisley makes a big splash in Massachusetts - Boston Music ...

With a slip-n-slide and a slew of friends in tow, Brad Paisley, the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, brought his “H20 II” tour to the Comcast Center on Saturday night. Paisley’s generous use of the stage and amphitheater space, as well as his projection of music videos and genuine interaction with the audience proved him a worthy recipient of the honor.

The show, which also served as the annual WKLB Country 102.5 Country Music Festival, not only provided a showcase for Paisley and his openers Blake Shelton and Jerrod Neimann, but up-and-coming acts Thompson Square, Edens Edge, the JaneDear Girls, and Sunny Sweeney, who performed on the Waterworld side stage, as well. The day long show came equipped with dunk tanks, slip-n-slides, and water balloon tosses to keep the audience cool and entertained before the main show, which lived up to the hype for local country music fans.

Entering through the audience, Paisley opened the show with “Mud on the Tires” and quickly followed with a pair of fan favorites in “Welcome to the Future” and “Ticks”. What followed was a hit parade that had the crowd joyously sing-along and dancing all night. Touring in support of his latest release, This Is Country Music , he also took time to promote the new album with a sampling of new songs included in the 100-minute set (though his duet with Carrie Underwood “Remind Me” was unfortunately absent). The show moved along swiftly, as Paisley played only a handful of ballads, with a shortened version of his sentimental “When I Get Where I’m Going”, which finished with a September 11th tribute, showcasing the best of his slower songs.