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Riot Gear Deployed as Frampton & Yes Conquer Stadiums
18 Jul
Summary
- A 1976 concert drew 4,500 more people than stadium capacity.
- Police deployed riot gear to control overwhelmed crowds.
- Damage occurred on adjacent high school and college campuses.
In the summer of 1976, a co-headlining tour featuring Peter Frampton and Yes drew massive crowds across North America.
This was during the height of 'Frampton Comes Alive!' popularity, making tickets highly sought after. The tour played stadiums, including a notable show in San Diego.
The San Diego concert on July 18, 1976, at Balboa Stadium, vastly exceeded its 35,000 capacity, with an additional 4,500 people attempting to attend. This overcapacity led to chaos, with 90 arrests made for offenses like public intoxication and trespassing.
Crowds breached fences, causing damage to adjacent San Diego High School and City College campuses. A first-aid station treated 100 individuals for injuries, and many others required hospitalization, illustrating the intense fan reaction to the double bill.
