Normally the phrase 'unhappy fans' and 'Ed Sheeran' do not go together but unfortunately that was the case at last night's Phoenix Park concert, although it wasn't Ed some fans were annoyed with, rather the organisers and the venue.
Of course many people hugely enjoyed the event but other concert goers complained about the crowd management as well as a very ill-advised placed merch stand.
Here's hoping things improve for Friday and Saturday night's shows.
I've been to many concerts in Phoenix park but I've never been to one as poorly organised as Ed sheeran. 50% of the crowd couldn't fit inside the venue and inside there was a crowd crush. Worst concert I've ever been to. #edsheerandublin
— Emma Scanlon (@Emma5Scanlon) May 16, 2018
I am sorrrryyyyy but Phoenix Park for a gig is the worst place. So disappointed after seeing @edsheeran there tonight, he sounded great but the standing was a disgrace!!! Basically waisted €86 to see nothing. #EdSheeranDublin @aikenpromotions
— Karla Bennett (@KarlaBennett29) May 17, 2018
#edsheerandublin crowd control feels really poorly managed Only one main entry/exit. It's just heaving and uncomfortable. Music's great but not sure this is worth it.
— Angie Mezzetti (@angiemezzetti) May 16, 2018
#edsheerandublin Had to watch the gig from here as the entrance was a bottleneck, not funny lads 61,000 fans and only room for 40,000 pic.twitter.com/E5hwI8hViX
— robert mc carthy (@RobertCarthy) May 16, 2018
When this is the layout for #EdSheeranDublin in Phoenix Park and you get this.. absolutely ridiculous and they also added a merch stand directly in the middle of the crowd which blocked the stage completely, from start to finish I couldn’t see ed at all. pic.twitter.com/96rvIfLcco
— Karla Bennett (@KarlaBennett29) May 17, 2018
Crowd control at #edsheerandublin a joke. Very messy.
— Caolan Mc Aree (@Caolanmcaree) May 16, 2018
ONE entrance/exit to the toilets at #edsheerandublin last night. People crying trying to get out, pulling down side barriers and fights starting. The crowd control was shocking!
— Emma Coyne (@coyner25) May 17, 2018
The wife’s not happy 😂. They put the t-shirt stall right in front of the stage for Ed Sheeran #edsheerandublin #edsheerandividetourjp #EdSheeran pic.twitter.com/GXo8Ux5q5S
— RiFi (@efc1967) May 16, 2018
Some advice for anyone heading to #edsheeran over the next few days in the Phoenix Park, the entrances are really poorly signposted. And staff not 100% sure of routes. Plenty of people ended up at incorrect entrances today. Also very limited services in seated areas...
— Aine Mc Manus (@ainemm91) May 16, 2018
acres of space around us to one side of the stage while so many were stuck outside behind the stands. Also need to look at the entrance / exit system to the food and toilets area for the standing crowd as it was a disaster when the concert was in full flow.
— sorchac (@sorchac11) May 17, 2018
. @aikenpromotions this was the view behind us. We could barely see the stage and there was no speakers or screens behind the two stands that were blocking everyone’s view. We got crushed between the stands at one stage, it was a joke. #edsheeran #phoenixpark pic.twitter.com/ZtscKb4N5k
— Vals F (@missvalf) May 16, 2018
@aikenpromotions #edsheeran ...we were so disappointed with Phoenix Park as a venue. Stick to stadiums. There were as many people behind stands as there were in front of them. Ed is a fab musician but poor experience, and not value for money unfortunately ðŸ™Â? pic.twitter.com/qWic7VCPD4
— John O'Keeffe (@iamjohnokeeffe) May 16, 2018
Anyone else think the #EdSheeran gig was absolute shite? We left halfway through along with tonnes of other people. Very disappointed, nowhere near as good as his other gigs.
— Amanda (@iAmanda91) May 16, 2018
I absolutely ðŸ'— Ed, and was so grateful that I got to go to his concert for the 2nd time in 2 weeks. But my God Id never go to a concert in Phoenix Park again. Couldn't really see him, could barely hear him. It was ridiculously claustrophobic. It's a no from me @aikenpromotions
— Leah Louise King (@Leahlouking) May 16, 2018
Love going to a gig and not being able to see the artist. Hope the merch sales were good though... #EdSheeran pic.twitter.com/8SC9fBLMEW
— James Harding (@Jamesy_Harding) May 16, 2018
Aiken have issued a statement addressing the complaints:
"Last night (16 May 2018) at the first Ed Sheeran concert at the Phoenix Park, movement of people through the large gap between two banks of seats (that is the connection between the concessions area/entrances and the viewing area/pitch) worked well all night until Ed took to the stage when we had approximately 5k people still to come in.
"When Ed went on stage those people who were in the concessions /toilet area and those still entering came in through the gap but did not move on to take a place in the designated standing area, they just stopped inside the gap to watch the show. This gap was not meant to be a viewing area, it was designed to facilitate movement between areas.
"This meant the people behind those who had stopped were unable to get into the viewing area and likewise some people were unable to get back out to the toilets for a time. There was at all times plenty of space left and right but it took time and many stewards and Gardai to move them on in. Once this had been done normal movement between the areas resumed."
"The team are meeting this morning to review it and are putting additional measures in place to prevent it happening again.
"There have been no reports of any (even minor) injuries as a result of this."
Aiken also had the below advice for those attending Friday and Saturday night's shows:
"Re some comments from audience members who mistakenly thought they had seated tickets when they were in fact standing tickets, we want to clarify that tickets with Gen Admission (GA) on them are tickets for the designated standing area. If you have a seated ticket it will clearly state on it a Block / Row and seat number.
"Please check your tickets carefully.
"Last night a number of people arrived late. Please leave plenty of time to get to the venue.
"Please check online for details on where concessions and toilets are located and your best routes from the area you are in to those facilities. There are bars and concessions left and right of the stage
"Red Route is for seated tickets - Seating blocks A&B must enter by the North Rd entrance (Cabra and Ashtown side), Seating Blocks C,D,E must enter at Chesterfield Avenue
"If you have standing tickets - Yellow Route or Blue route you can enter by either side - please follow signage and directions of stewards."