Downtown to be put to the test

Ten years ago, Youngstown rarely was a stop for top-name bands.

Now, it’s routine.

Beginning one week from today, there will be three big concerts in the city in a span of six days. On March 17, Carrie Underwood will be at Covelli Centre. On March 22, Elton John will return to Covelli while ZZ Top will come to Stambaugh Auditorium.

It’s worth noting that this will be the third time all three of these acts have been in the city in recent memory. Carrie Underwood played Covelli in 2008 and 2013. Elton John did in 2010 and 2014. ZZ Top played the venue in 2011 and at Yankee Lake in 2003.

So, Elton John playing Youngstown is nothing new. The same goes for ZZ Top.

But Elton and ZZ in town on the same night?

Now that is new.

Both March 17 (which is also St. Patrick’s Day) and March 22 will test downtown Youngstown’s ability to handle crowds.

The city has never had days with two such major draws downtown on the same night.

Luring people downtown on both of those days won’t be a problem. Instead, Michael McGiffin, the city’s downtown events coordinator, as well as the city’s safety departments and its hospitality industry, will be challenged to get the throngs in safely, find parking, minimize traffic jams, enjoy pre- and post-show dinners and libations, and then get home.

As such, there will be no street closings or large entertainment tents and beer/food vendors set up in the streets on St. Patrick’s Day, as has been done in past years.

With so many newcomers in town, McGiffin doesn’t want to confuse them with detours. And the myriad bars and restaurants won’t have competition.

The same will hold true March 22. Actually, that day might not be quite as hectic as it seems because ZZ Top is at Stambaugh Auditorium, and you can’t really walk there from downtown. McGiffin expects that restaurants on the North Side and YSU area will absorb some of the pre-concert rush for that show.

Crowd control is a good problem to have for downtown Youngstown. Many of us vividly remember the ghost town it was 15 years ago.

The transformation of the city center to an arts and entertainment mecca will take another leap in the summer of 2017, if the new riverside amphitheater opens, as planned.

The next problem might become: Is there too much entertainment for this shrinking metro area?

It probably already is a concern. But that’s a topic for the future.