QT Anniversary Celebration

[waterboy]

Any one else attend? It was weird.

We walked to Boulder(Veterans)Park expecting a huge overflow crowd from the West Bank activities. 21st was blocked off, the Bridge was blocked, Boulder and Riverside from 11th to 21st also closed.

The park had a large high definition screen set up that was simulcasting the activities across the river. It was weird because we were one of only a dozen people walking through the park! We continued over to Rivers Edge and saw literally, dozens of people! THis was at around 8:30pm. The silence was welcome but eerie.

We could hear kids yelling from the other side but got tired of waiting and went home around 9:30 to watch the excellent fireworks display from our front yard.

Was the other side crowded? What happened to the expected 50,000 people? I felt bad for QT. It was competing against TU football stadium opening, Greek Festival, Hispanic Festival and who knows what else. They deserved better attendance though.

[grahambino]

when your headliner is Hanson, seems like you're destined to fail.  Furthermore, if it lost attendance to the Hispanic festival (very loose definition of the word "festival"), then its time to pack it in.

Hispanic "festival" was pretty depressing.
Carnival food, about 8 tents most related to cell phones, insurance...etc etc.

They did have cheap beer though. 2.00 for beer is a great deal.

Maybe it got better later in the day on Saturday....but when we were there it was sad.

[waterboy]

I would have figured that Leon Russell performing earlier would draw folks who would picnic and wait for the fireworks. TU filled their stadium and the Greek festival was well attended.

I'm just guessing here but...beer? No concessionaires at Veterans, the park areas close at 11pm and the Hanson crowd doesn't imbibe.

It was still an interesting lurk and the fireworks were better than the 4th of July.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

Any one else attend? It was weird.

We walked to Boulder(Veterans)Park expecting a huge overflow crowd from the West Bank activities. 21st was blocked off, the Bridge was blocked, Boulder and Riverside from 11th to 21st also closed.

The park had a large high definition screen set up that was simulcasting the activities across the river. It was weird because we were one of only a dozen people walking through the park! We continued over to Rivers Edge and saw literally, dozens of people! THis was at around 8:30pm. The silence was welcome but eerie.

We could hear kids yelling from the other side but got tired of waiting and went home around 9:30 to watch the excellent fireworks display from our front yard.

Was the other side crowded? What happened to the expected 50,000 people? I felt bad for QT. It was competing against TU football stadium opening, Greek Festival, Hispanic Festival and who knows what else. They deserved better attendance though.

I certainly anticipated it would be a large crowd, but I thought the "overflow theater" at Vet's Park was a bit optimistic.  People in Tulsa are an odd lot.  Perhaps if QT started doing an annual QT Fest, they might have 50,000 in attendance after four or five years.

I worked out at the boat house till about 11am when the "gates opened" and volunteers were still showing up.  Hardly any fans showing at that point.  Plans changed and I didn't go back for Leon and Hanson, so no idea how crowded it got.  The shuttles were running up and down 15th all day, but I never paid attention as to whether or not they were full of people.

TU's opener must have been a success, cars were parked up to 15th.

[grahambino]

we heard the fireworks and went outside to see them for a bit.
i agree, the fireworks were great.  they must have spent a fortune on them, b/c it went on for a good ~20-30 mins.

[grahambino]

and yeah, the TU game was full...sold out, if i'm not mistaken.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by grahambino

we heard the fireworks and went outside to see them for a bit.
i agree, the fireworks were great.  they must have spent a fortune on them, b/c it went on for a good ~20-30 mins.

Looked like three or four flatbed trailers packed with them when they were staged south of the 21st St. Bridge.

[sgrizzle]

I went to the QT festival when the doors opened. I think Leon and CrookedX were more important than Hanson. Play order doesn't hold the same ranking system at something like this than at a regular concert. I think in actuality Hanson was just the opening act for the fireworks.

It was a bad weekend but they had a good number of people when we went, which was VERY early.

[cannon_fodder]

quote:Originally posted by grahambino

and yeah, the TU game was full...sold out, if i'm not mistaken.

TU was turning people away a good while before kickoff.

I went to the QT festival around 11:30.  There were maybe 2000 people in all of River Parks West.  I figured it would pickup later.  There was no parking on the West side of the river for non-employees and while there was 50 cent hot dogs, pop was $2.  

My boy played for a while on the free bouncy things, we looked around a bit, ate some dogs, and left.  I had the TU game that night and my wife had to work.  Thanks for the free show QT, but it wasn't enough to keep me around.

[Gold]

I'm a bit amused at the reports here.  I wasn't very happy with QT's choice to schedule this show the same night as TU's game in the new stadium.  TU deserved center stage and it looks like it got it.

I didn't notice any QT stuff at the TU game, which might be a first.  I was particularly pleased by the lack of a race between an egg roll, hot dog, and taquito (as amused as I get by the egg roll's mustache, meant to indicate that it is asian).  And no stupid ads on the PA . . . (in a seedy voice) "Hey Tulsa, when we play a team from New York, we'll call it a Long John."  (Or whatever they say.)

[carltonplace]

The Fireworks were amazing and traffic was much busier than normal in my hood, but nothing like they are for July 4th.

[MDepr2007]

quote:Originally posted by grahambino

we heard the fireworks and went outside to see them for a bit.
i agree, the fireworks were great.  they must have spent a fortune on them, b/c it went on for a good ~20-30 mins.

I don't beleive all of them went off either. There was talk earlier in the day that they were having wiring problems of some sort.
Better than the trailer mishape on the 4th that shortened the show.

[TUalum0982]

quote:Originally posted by MDepr2007

quote:Originally posted by grahambino

we heard the fireworks and went outside to see them for a bit.
i agree, the fireworks were great.  they must have spent a fortune on them, b/c it went on for a good ~20-30 mins.

I don't beleive all of them went off either. There was talk earlier in the day that they were having wiring problems of some sort.
Better than the trailer mishape on the 4th that shortened the show.

we went about 715 or so.  Was lucky enough to get a qt employee parking pass and wristbands which allowed us in the "QT area" for free beer of all kinds, food, and the like.  THe place was absolutely packed.  Waited about 5 min to use the bathroom.  I would say there were 15,000-20,000 during the time we were at the event.  I thought it was great, did go for the music obviously as I am not a hanson fan, but the free beer/drinks and food were great!!