Texas Task Force on Concert Safety Holds Third Meeting to Discuss Best Practices

The Texas Task Force on Concert Safety recently held its third meeting and first in-person meeting at Global Life Park in Arlington. Hosted by the Texas Rangers organization, more than 45 public safety and industry experts as well as expert contributors and local authorities came together to discuss best practices for concert safety.

During the meeting, the task force focused on topics such as unified command and control, crowd dynamics and local permitting, including ways to create consistency in permitting and statewide response. The task force also narrowed the discussion and began developing specific recommendations and strategies to ensure concert safety, which will be included in a final report to Gov. Greg Abbott.

Abbott launched the task force on November 10 in response to the tragedy at Astroworld Festival in Houston that killed 10 concertgoers and injured more than 300. The task force is led by Brendon Anthony, Texas music office director, and consists of safety experts, law enforcement, fire fighters, state agencies, music industry leaders and others.

The task force will hold several roundtable discussions to analyze concert safety and develop ways to enhance security at live music events in Texas. Following these meetings, the task force will produce a report of recommendations and strategies to ensure concert safety and protect concertgoers.