Phish are set to wrap up a North American tour with a three-day run this Labour Day weekend at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO. But the concerts have come under siege by an unlikely threat— plague-infested prairie dogs.
The area has been the subject of the Tri-County Health Department's recent investigation into a flea-borne plague outbreak affecting local prairie dogs. And while the concert has not been cancelled, the health department has restricted accessibility to on-site camping, vending and tailgating (usually referred to by Phish fans as "Shakedown Alley" or "Shakedown Street").
The band have since issued a statement on their website.
"Fortunately, the Tri-County Health Department has advised that Dick's Sporting Goods Park (DSGP) is safe to host Phish's concerts over Labor Day weekend," the band said in the announcement. "While there have been no confirmed cases of plague on site at DSGP, as an extra measure of caution, the Health Department has restricted parking at the venue to asphalt lots — concertgoers will not be allowed to park on unpaved lots or grass. We are sorry to say that there will be no overnight camping allowed for this year's shows."
What this means for the typical onslaught of Phishheads to the area is unclear. Nomadic Phish fans often rely on venue parking lots for vending and accommodation. Hopefully the mob will find another location to populate ahead of the concert.
Phish have performed the same Labour Day weekend event for the past eight years.
Watch a Fox31 Denver report below about the plague-threatened Phish concert.
The area has been the subject of the Tri-County Health Department's recent investigation into a flea-borne plague outbreak affecting local prairie dogs. And while the concert has not been cancelled, the health department has restricted accessibility to on-site camping, vending and tailgating (usually referred to by Phish fans as "Shakedown Alley" or "Shakedown Street").
The band have since issued a statement on their website.
"Fortunately, the Tri-County Health Department has advised that Dick's Sporting Goods Park (DSGP) is safe to host Phish's concerts over Labor Day weekend," the band said in the announcement. "While there have been no confirmed cases of plague on site at DSGP, as an extra measure of caution, the Health Department has restricted parking at the venue to asphalt lots — concertgoers will not be allowed to park on unpaved lots or grass. We are sorry to say that there will be no overnight camping allowed for this year's shows."
What this means for the typical onslaught of Phishheads to the area is unclear. Nomadic Phish fans often rely on venue parking lots for vending and accommodation. Hopefully the mob will find another location to populate ahead of the concert.
Phish have performed the same Labour Day weekend event for the past eight years.
Watch a Fox31 Denver report below about the plague-threatened Phish concert.
