Flooding puts stop to Irvine Meadows concert

An hour after the concert was supposed to start Sunday — after hundreds of fans had kicked off their shoes and waded through knee-deep muddy water to enter the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre — organizers announced that it would be postponed because of heavy rain and flooding.

When fans began arriving to see Third Eye Blind and Dashboard Confessional, the area leading to the venue from its parking lot was already filling with water. Early on, they were told that the only way in was through the flooded area and were encouraged by security to go ahead.

“It’s only water,” they said.

But by the time the show was set to begin at 7 p.m., the area in the main entrance to the venue had flooded more, and amphitheater staff prohibited thousands of fans from continuing inside.

As 26-year-old Sheila Nem waited outside Irvine Meadows, she still had hope that she would be able to get in but wasn’t willing to risk walking through the water with her pregnant cousin. She said she was excited to finally see Dashboard Confessional after several years of being a fan.

“I’m pretty upset,” she said. “Maybe if my cousin wasn’t pregnant, we would try to cross the walkway. We’ve been stuck out here. It’s not cool. This was supposed to be one of our last times out together before she had the baby.”

At the same time Nem was stuck outside, about 300 people had already entered and were waiting in the rain, covered in trash bags and ponchos, in hopes the concert would go on. But at around 8 p.m., security informed the crowd that the concert would be rescheduled to Monday — and they couldn’t leave.

Staff told guests they would have to wait until the flood was under control. Hundreds waited roughly 20 minutes before they were permitted to trek back through the now-dark and flooded area.

California traditionally sees about 0.19 of an inch of rain in July, according to the Western Regional Climate Center.

The heaviest rainfall in Orange County— about 1.54 inches — was recorded in Modjeska Canyon between 8 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday, according to Orange County Public Works Department.

“The safety of our fans is always of paramount importance, leading us to this decision to postpone this evening’s performance,” Irvine Meadows posted on its Facebook account at about 9 p.m.

Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi warned that trying to get through fast-moving water is not safe.

“It’s never smart to walk through running water because something can sweep you off your feet and you can go underwater,” he said.

No injuries were reported during Sunday’s concert, police said.

This isn’t the first time Irvine Meadows, formerly Verizon Amphitheatre, has flooded, authorities said.

“This has happened many times over the years,” said Irvine Police Sgt. Steve Wolf. “This is a natural creek bed. It never used to have barricades on the side. When there’s a minor flow, the barricades work really well. When it’s a major flow, there has to be a way to get the water out.”

In 2012, authorities rescued four men who were stuck in a pickup truck in the flooded area between the parking lot and the venue. Rescue crews, who were attempting to avoid the fast-moving water, airlifted the men from the area, Concialdi said.

Hundreds of fans leaving the venue Sunday night said they don’t plan to return for the show next week, according to comments made at the show and on Facebook. Livenation, a ticketing agency and owner of Irvine Meadows, said it will provide refunds through the point-of-purchase for fans who cannot attend the rescheduled date.

Chris Carrabba, lead singer of Dashboard Confessional, said in an email that he was upset that the show had to be postponed but added that the rescheduled date would be worth it for fans.

“We try to make every show special,” he said. “I’m disappointed that the weather caused a cancellation of our show, but I think our rescheduled show will be even more special. We had been so eager to play and thought we had lost our chance.

“Now, not only do we get a second chance for a show for that excellent audience, but it will also be the last show of the tour. Last nights of tours always make for something special.”