Local promotions could mean larger CatFest crowd

About 1,000 people came to the University of Arizona Mall last year for Wildcat Welcome's CatFest - and officials say that attendance could easily double this year.

Concerns of overcrowding have caused UA police Cmdr. Manuel Haywood yesterday to request Associated Students Adviser Jim Drnek to hire two additional private security personnel and promise to designate four police officers - up from the two previously assigned - to patrol during the festivities.

But University Activity Board staffers, who said yesterday that UA police advised them to order no more than two officers, have downplayed the situation. The activity board members said they have learned from previous years and are ready for anything, including a possible 2,500-person turnout.

"We fully expected word of mouth would get the community involved," said Jeff Niederdeppe, director of Rising Star entertainment. He is working with CatFest officials and books the bands.

Niederdeppe also said the activities board officials had nothing to do with alerting the local media.

He said Blink 182's record company alerted KFMA 92.1-FM of the band's appearance, and the local radio station has been broadcasting announcements of the event ever since.

Diane Newman, UA commercial and Mall activity coordinator, said there are ways to prevent enormous crowds.

"If you don't want to reach a large amount of people, you control advertising," she said.

Newman also said the event has been listed as a medium-to-large event, which usually implies that a crowd of 200 to 500, but possibly more, people will attend.

University Activity Board President Caitlein Ryan said tonight's event will be liquor-free, and about 20 student helpers will circulate to keep an eye out for alcohol or drugs.

She also said an ambulance will be nearby in case of emergencies.

Ryan and her associates have also changed the stage barricades in an effort to make them safer for the audience.

Orange fire fences with large metal poles were used last year to block the crowd from the front of the stage. But Ryan had the metal poles replaced with barricades as a safety precaution, she said.

Niederdeppe also said that Blink 182 will receive less than the $17,000 guaranteed to Poe, last year's scheduled musical act. Poe canceled, prompting CatFest organizers to quickly hire a replacement band, the Refreshments.

David J. Cieslak can be reached via e-mail at David.J.Cieslak@wildcat.arizona.edu.