A group of Who Concert survivors and families of the eleven people killed announced plans Friday to build a memorial near where the Cincinnati tragedy happened, December 3rd, 1979.
The victims were trampled to death when the crowd, holding general admission tickets--which means their seats weren't reserved-- surged forward when they heard the band start warming up and only a few doors into the Coliseum were open. Cincinnati banned so-called "festival seating" shortly afterward.
The Who Memorial Committee President Tom Brown says he has permission from Cincinnati and Hamilton County to put up the memorial on the plaza level between U.S. Bank Arena and Great American Ball Park. He explained what it might look like. "I want something that's bright and colorful and celebrates the spirit of youth because all of our victims were so young. They had their whole lives ahead of them."
Construction is expected to start as soon as the committee has the money to build the memorial. It is accepting donations nationwide at U.S. Bank locations. Brown, a survivor himself, says the goal is a greater level of healing for both the survivors and families of the survivors.
This year will be the 35th anniversary of the Who tragedy. For the 30th anniversary WVXU's Lee Hay and Brian O'Donnell did a documentary on the event.Listen to it here.
The committee is also establishing scholarships at the high schools where the victims attended.
