Whatever, USA sets rules on who gets access

Not everyone gets a wristband

It comes down to numbers this weekend. The idea is if a blue Elk Avenue overseen by giant gorillas and rhinos attracts five or six thousand people at the most, the Whatever, USA event will work smoothly and be fun as well as manageable. The concern comes if 10,000 or more people show up to check out the hot tubs and petting zoo. So the latest official policy is to limit the people allowed into the event that begins Friday afternoon and runs into Sunday morning.

The Crested Butte Town Council was updated on security measures and concerns at Tuesday’s council meeting. The bottom line is that not everyone will be allowed through the gate at Elk and Fourth.

Who gets a pass into the venue?
According to Crested Butte chief marshal Tom Martin, all Gunnison County residents older than 21 will be allowed to join the contest winners who fly in Friday. Second homeowners with property in the Crested Butte Fire Protection District, roughly north of Round Mountain, will get a wristband and be allowed in. Tourists who already have arrangements to visit the upper valley, such as the wedding parties celebrating this weekend, will be permitted to participate. Western State Colorado University students over 21 years old will be allowed to participate after making arrangements through the school. Everyone else is out of luck.
Martin said the idea is to send a friendly but firm message that while Crested Butte might be a great place to come visit from Denver or Grand Junction, this isn’t the week to do it. “We want them to come visit another time but if they don’t fit the guidelines, they shouldn’t even try to get in,” explained Martin. “We want the locals to come and get their credentials early and the goal is to get most people their wristbands by Thursday evening.”
There will be two locations for locals to show an I.D. and obtain a proper wristband. A tent will be set up at Fourth and Elk by the museum and another at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Center at the Four-way Stop. They will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Potential numbers the big concern
The massive amount of publicity generated this past week when the “secret” about the Bud Light promotion broke internationally has town officials a bit concerned about too many people coming to the event and taxing town resources.
“It will be a tremendous event if 4,000 or 5,000 people show up,” said Martin. “If 8,000 or 10,000 or more people come, it won’t be as good. So we want to get the word out that people going in the venue have to meet the criteria.”
Martin and the event organizers said they would spread that word as soon as possible. Press releases will be sent to media outlets, and Facebook and social media will be used to spread the message about the limits. Think you can show up and camp up the Slate River and party on Elk? Nope. Try showing a hotel key from a Gunnison hotel and you will not be issued a wristband.
“Honestly, the fewer people that show up the better it will be for everyone,” added Martin.
“We will try to make it as easy as possible for residents and the second homeowners to get their credentials,” promised town manager Todd Crossett. “We will have local people as part of the crew issuing the credentials. Guests who are here might have to show a reservation and room key. We aren’t asking anyone show a utility bill but everyone needs an I.D. We don’t want a Gestapo experience for the residents, second homeowners or guests but we will be asking people wanting to get into the venue to show they are not just showing up to camp and drink free beer.”
Martin said the scrutiny would increase if the numbers started climbing to the point of being uncomfortable.

Not worried about the locals…
The council expressed some frustration that that word hadn’t been spread earlier. “Our concern is the lack of info out there,” said Crested Butte mayor Aaron Huckstep. “We are all getting questions from locals and guests, including the wedding parties. We need some hard and fast rules.”
“It’s not the locals we are worried about,” agreed event organizer Bobby Wells. “We are inviting them to come and participate. But we want to make it clear you can’t get in unless you are invited. That is the message we are trying to send.”
“It’s a problem we helped create because we didn’t want to close off Elk Avenue to a private function,” noted Councilperson Chris Ladoulis.
If the hordes do descend on the valley, the idea is to put up a checkpoint at the county shops south of town. Again, the same criteria will be applied to people driving into town as those allowed in the venue. A similar checkpoint will be established at the Y on Kebler Pass Road.
“With the idea that more and more people have heard about it and may want to show up, we are drawing some harder edges,” acknowledged Crossett.
“I’m sure we will get some unhappy people and some complaints but we want to use common sense,” summarized Martin.

Other Bud Light stuff
—In an effort to clear up some other information, locals will not be allowed at the Friday and Saturday night concerts at Big Mine Arena. But understand, those concerts will be very loud.
—Ultimate authority over the event is delegated to Martin and Crossett. They will try to work with the event organizers if issues arise, but they have the authority to make decisions.
—There will be about 20 actual police officers on duty during the event, including guest appearances by retired Crested Butte officers Ted Connor and Jack Crumpton. Cops from Gunnison and county sheriffs will be in uniform. If the numbers rise, officers from Montrose, Delta and Grand Junction could be called in. An additional 80 professional security personnel are being hired and Martin said they seem very qualified for the event.
—The event sites are under a special events permit so while accommodations are being made to allow local adult citizens access to the area, the staff has the ability and authority to refuse entrance to individuals whose intent is to disrupt or protest the event.
—As it gets closer to the event, expect more blue things to appear and more fences to go up. Again, logistics are being adjusted to accommodate people who live and work in or near the areas.
—Here’s some legalese associated with the event…The council instructed Town Attorney John Belkin, as a condition to the approval of Bud Light’s use of the Common Consumption Area, to require Bud Light to enter into an agreement with the Promotional Association of all the Elk Avenue bars and restaurants for use of the Association¹s Common Consumption Area. The agreement would address important security, fencing and alcohol consumption concerns. Belkin delivered the agreement to Bud Light for its signature on Wednesday. Bud Light’s representatives did not attend the Tuesday public hearing after being instructed to by Belkin thus prompting the Town Council’s requirement for an agreement so that its concerns could be addressed.
—Speaking of Belkin…he has been spending a lot of time on the event but the council wanted to make sure the public knew he was being compensated under a reimbursement agreement with Bud Light. That legal bill will be well into the five figures. Also falling under that agreement is Stephanie Prater and H Baum and any additional security costs incurred by Crested Butte. Dan Marshall is being paid directly by the Bud Light organizers.
—You can read the story of the final Bud Light event approval by the council at our website, www.crestedbuttenews.com. The story is headlined, “Council unanimously approves Whatever USA.”
—Did I mention the concerts would be loud? They will be loud.