The Tabernacle Remains Closed for Floor Repair

February 11,2014

From www.cbsatlanta.com

Atlanta's popular concert venue, Tabernacle, would normally be rocking on a Saturday night.  But an unstable floor forced the venue's staff to cancel musician Corey Smith's show for the evening.

Smith said he found out he might get canceled during a show the night before in Jackson, MS. He said it really disappointed him when he got the final news early Saturday as he rolled into town.

Smith, who is from the Atlanta area, said, "It's a really special night of the year for me. Lots of family and friends come out to the show, looking like another sell-out here. Been looking forward to it for weeks."

So far, Tabernacle has not canceled any other shows. Its staff wrote on the venue's Facebook page that their "top priority is every fan, performer and crew member's safety. Structural engineers are on site, implementing an immediate action plan."

They rescheduled Corey Smith's show for May 10 and will honor the tickets for the Feb. 8 canceled show. They also said people with tickets for Panic! at the Disco can get refunds at the place where they purchased them.

Panic! At The Disco was performing at the Tabernacle when an estimated 300 fans rushed the stage. Some people reported the floor felt unstable, and the fire marshal ordered an evacuation.

Atlanta Fire and Rescue said the fire marshal noticed a stage light moving in the area between the merchandise and stage. 

The ceiling of the merchandise area is the floor of the stage, according to the fire department.

Authorities said the fire marshal also saw the stage floor bouncing down and could see joists that he should not have been able to see.

"This was going to be a story either way - an evacuation or a collapse," said the marshal.

"That was crazy. Glad everyone's OK, even though it still sucks we can't play," tweeted the group's lead singer, Brendon Urie.

The evacuation was orderly, and no injuries were reported.

Urie also tweeted the group would return to Atlanta: "We'll see your beautiful faces in the summer."