Scores of concert-goers were left facing “nightmare” delays as they turned out to see Andrea Bocelli live in Inverness.
Thousands of people turned out to Inverness Caledonian Thistle Stadium on Friday evening to watch the world-renowned opera singer take to the stage.
His spell-bounding performance, which featured as part of his Believe World Tour, left audience members in tears.
However, many were left disappointed after being forced to endure lengthy delays ahead of the much-anticipated gig.
Motorists were also left in lengthy tailbacks as they battled to find parking ahead of the concert.
The main show started later than planned due to the delays.
Disappointed fans have taken to Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club’s social media page to speak about the nightmare ordeal and criticise the planners’ lack of organisation.
‘Disorganised chaos’
Gordon Masson from Aberdeen was among those in the crowd. He described the event as “disorganised chaos.”
He said: “Total disgrace. Whoever organised that shambles should be sacked.
“We were turned away from the direct route to the stadium by security and redirected on a 30 minute detour, doing a complete circle of the stadium before arriving at a massive queue where we had another 20-minute wait to get into the stadium.
“Saw quite a few older people with mobility issues really struggling.
“Disorganised chaos.
“Bocelli will be shocked if he is aware of the way his concert had been organised.”
Fellow attendee Fiona FitzGerald said she was plagued by delays ahead of the much-anticipated gig.
She said: “We can’t get in. We’ve been in the queue for 45 minutes plus 45 mins bus queuing before that. Parking was a nightmare too. Please reevaluate how major events are managed.”
Meanwhile, David Baker said Friday’s events was an “embarrassment” to the Highland capital.
‘They gave up and left’
As scores of fans faced lengthy delays outside the stadium, concertgoers were also enduring “nightmare” conditions inside.
Neil Henderson from Montrose said his parents “gave up and left” after enduring lengthy queues and detours.
He said: “Just heard from my parents who travelled from Montrose for this last night, their tickets were cancelled and replaced at the last minute and when they finally got in after lengthy queues and detours they couldn’t actually see any of the stage from where they had been put.
“Sounds like it was an utter shambles from start to finish.”
Event organisers Caledonia Calling concert company blamed the delays on the late arrival of ticket holders and the need to reissue tickets due to the size of the new stage used for the gig.
A spokesman said: “There was an unfortunate delay due to a later than usual arrival of ticketholders at Caledonian Stadium on Friday evening but this was alleviated reasonably quickly once the full situation was appraised.
“The traffic flow for an 11,000 plus attendance was in line with the plans agreed with the police and Highland Council.
“All relevant plans and actions were carried out exactly in line with the agreed multi-agency licensed traffic management plan. Shuttle buses ran every ten minutes from the bus station to the stadium and back again from 4pm until 11.50pm.”
He added:”Everyone was seated successfully once inside the venue and they enjoyed one of the most memorable shows ever to be seen in the city, let alone at Caledonian Stadium. “
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