Memorial honors 11 trampled to death at 1979 Who concert
A newly dedicated memorial marker stands Thursday between U.S. Bank Arena and Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati to honor the people killed and injured waiting to see The Who at then-Riverfront Colosseum 36 years ago.
Andy Bowes takes a photo Thursday of the newly dedicated memorial marker between U.S. Bank Arena and Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, to honor his brother, Peter, and the others killed and injured while waiting to see The Who at then-Riverfront Colosseum 36 years ago during on the plaza. Peter Bowes was 18.
Craig Ransom lights a candle Thursday to honor the people killed and injured while waiting to see The Who at then-Riverfront Colosseum 36 years ago.
CINCINNATI (AP) – The 11 people who were trampled to death by a rushing crowd at a 1979 concert by The Who in Cincinnati now have a memorial in the city.
Mayor John Cranley dedicated the memorial marker in downtown Cincinnati Thursday night, telling friends and families of people killed in the tragedy the city would never forget, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Friday.
“I believe in progress, but we can’t move forward without remembering,” Cranley said.
Besides the 11 killed, about two dozen were injured Dec. 3, 1979, when the crowd rushed a few open doors at the then-Riverfront Coliseum before the show, which was general admission with no assigned seating. The tragedy led to local and state laws regarding crowd control.
David Heck, 19, of Highland Heights, Ky., died that night. His mother, Mary Lou Heck, said Thursday it was hard to come back.
“People think you forget, but you don’t,” she said.
A candle inside a lantern was lit for each of the victims, and a moment of silence was shared Thursday, as the marker was unveiled.
David Eavey was 11 when he attended the concert, where his shoulder and hand were crushed as he was pushed to the ground.
“I waited 35 years from that night to see this,” Eavey said.