Left In The Cold: The 2009 Inaugural Youth Ball

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The official Inaugural Youth Ball was clearly oversold by thousands of tickets-- we are hearing that 10,000 tickets were sold. Only 3,500 people made it into the concert hall, and no ticket holders were ever told that this was how the event would work.

There were foreseeable conditions at the event that were clearly a dangerous disregard and disrespect for both the attendees, as well as youth organizers at large. The security forces were unprofessional: they communicated conflicting and often dangerous advice, while blocking exits. There was no regard for the hundreds, if not thousands, of people waiting outside the Hilton to get in-- in 20 degree weather, in formal attire, for several hours, with no heaters or any other way to get warm except to leave. Hundreds are still suffering the consequences of this.

On top of all that, the event itself -- where an additional 3,000 people were corralled into a side room but not allowed into the concert celebration -- was poorly managed and executed. $8-$12 drinks for youth, while other official balls had free drinks? Crummy hotel food? Shameful to treat the group of people who carried this election with such disregard.

We demand:

1) Transparency.
How many tickets were distributed?
What was the capacity of the ballroom?
What was the capacity of the outer hall?

2) Apology.
A formal apology from PIC for the gross mismanagement.

3) Restitution.
Full refunds for those who did not get into the ballroom.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ball
• barack
• dangerous
• dc
• documentary
• hilton
• inauguration
• interview
• obama
• washington
• youth

[dreamingthrough]

I gave away my ticket to someone further up front in disgust when it became clear we wouldn't get in but I still have my Ticketmaster receipt as well as the envelope they sent it in if they want to request proof of purchase for a refund.

[Joshvanburen]

This was a travesty...I'll do what I can to get the message out.

[Ozombie08]

That's messed up, seriously.

[xy11xy]

sucks.

[makezmuzic]

I hope people take the time to find out who in PIC really fudged up on this. It sounds like a rip off. And I'd like to hear what people are doing to get a REAL party going.

[mb1111111111]

Was this sponsored by the Obama campaign or another third party? If it was Obama-sponsored then that surprises me, but if organized by a third party then I can definitely understand the mismanagement. You ought to tell the story on The Young Turks (you were a guest on the show one time). It seems to me that there were enough people denied entry to the event, who would be eligible for refunds, to start a class-action suit against the organizers and-or venue.

[bccofilms]

12 dollar drinks when they oversold by thousands? They could have had nothing but top shelf drinks and still made profit! Jesus.

[NoelsaysFetch]

The organizers were totally incompetent - not to mention ... booking Jay-z and Lil' Wayne? What was that all about?