The festival typically attracts 100,000 people over both days. Credit: Getty Images
While more than 200 people were taken into custody during last weekend’s country fest, police said this year’s concert was a “vast improvement” over previous years.
Over the two-day New England Country Music Festival at Gillette Stadium, 268 people were taken into custody. Foxborough Police Chief Ed O’Leary said of those, 89 people were arrested for criminal offenses and the rest were taken into protective custody, mostly for public drunkenness.
The festival typically attracts about 100,000 people over both days.
Last year about 600 people were taken into custody, and during the concert’s visit in 2011, 376 people were taken away by police.
“Overall it’s just a vast improvement,” said O’Leary. “I think we did a good job managing the different incidents.”
O’Leary said that various factors played into the drop in arrest and custody totals including collaboration with other departments — and the weather.
“One of the things that really worked in our favor was the different weather pattern. It wasn’t hot and muggy … so I think fewer people were really binge drinking, which helped modify behaviors,” O’Leary said. “Certainly we spent a lot of time providing additional training to guys working in the field.”
Country fest is a tour featuring Kenny Chesney. This year it also featured Eric Church, Eli Young Band and Kacey Musgraves.
Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.
