Pubdate: Fri, 10 Dec 2004
Source: Tennessean, The (TN)
Copyright: 2004 The Tennessean
Contact:  http://www.tennessean.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/447

ADDRESS BONNAROO NOW

If a Middle Tennessee community decided to create a three-day event that 
would bring 90,000 people to the region, it would have the all-out backing 
of business owners and government officials.

Bonnaroo deserves no less. Organizers announced this week that the fourth 
Bonnaroo is scheduled for next June.

The event dropped in the lap of the midstate in 2002 when promoters rented 
a 700-acre farm in Manchester for a three-day music festival. It was wildly 
successful, which caught the state off guard. Traffic on I-24 in both 
directions was clogged for almost 24 hours as about 70,000 concert goers 
made their way to the site. Pity the poor slob who was just trying to get 
to Chattanooga.

Traffic has been a problem with subsequent Bonnaroos, but each year state 
and local officials do a better job steering the Bonnaroo crowd to the 
event and guiding other motorists to alternative routes.

The most pressing issue now isn't traffic; it's drugs. Last year, 27 people 
were arrested and 132 drug citations were issued at Bonnaroo. Two deaths 
occurred, both of which, according to autopsies, were cases of drug toxicity.

As much as Tennessee might like hosting this world-renown event, it must 
address the drug issue now. State officials need to work with Cannon County 
and Manchester to assure that enough law enforcement officers are 
available: Last year, the county scrounged up all it could, but the sheriff 
said he still had a manpower shortage.

Additionally, concert organizers should demonstrate that they intend to run 
a drug-free event. They should not only agree to conduct thorough 
inspections of cars that come onto the property, but to prominently inform 
people buying tickets that their cars will be inspected.

Bonnaroo officially has an anti-drug policy. For the reputation of the 
festival and the safety of patrons, it should translate that policy into 
beefed up security measures so that it will be welcome in Middle Tennessee 
for years to come.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth