UPDATE: Cordish Group is impersonating patrons in an attempt at damage control. Check out the comments section!
And why are people afraid to talk about it?
We received a report from an attendee of the New Year’s Eve party at Hotel night club at Louisville’s Fourth Street Live! complex that has us scratching our heads.
According to them, they were part of a stampede situation shortly after 1:30 A.M. (and for nearly a half-hour) in which people were trampled and some nearly suffocated. Allegedly more than 150 people were involved.
Entrance and exit doors were locked, there was only one way in, one way out. People were screaming that they couldn’t breathe, they were fainting, crying.
Our source says it was a problem of overcrowding, lack of security and zero staff helping the situation. Along with emergency exits that were not clearly marked– they were blocked by curtains.
Here’s what our source had to say about the situation:
I am happy to be alive and un-injured. But I was really shaken up.
It was horrible. Hardly what I imagined what my New Years Eve would look like.
We’re not sure how this has slipped by the local media and we’re not sure why no one will fill us in on what happened. We’re totally puzzled.
So, if you were at Hotel on New Year’s Eve or know someone who was there? Get in touch with us.
Hotel folks? Call us back. Give us an explanation.
P.S. Two people now tell us that the DJ for the evening announced a fire hazard that night, which alarmed the crowd of nearly 1,000.
UPDATE #2: According to LMPD spokesman Phil Russell, someone called LMPD from inside the club to complain about the overcrowded conditions at both Hotel and Angel’s Rock Bar.
A police supervisor was dispatched to the scene, and met with club management to discuss concerns about the crowd. Russell said that the club agreed to voluntarily shut down about 1:30 a.m.
So much for Cordish trying to cover this up!
37 responses so far ↓
1 Karen // Jan 5, 2009 at 2:47 pm
My husband and I were at Hotel on NYE and had a wonderful evening with our party. We were howver upset that the evening ended early. we did not notice much other tahn what appeared to be a crowd where we hecked our coats.
please make sure this is not a hoax. we love Hotel and are proud to bring our out-of-town friends there.
2 jake // Jan 5, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Oh, look, someone from CORDISH GROUP pretending to be a patron of one of their establishments!
Look: Karen (IP: 216.142.109.* , exchange1.cordish.com
It’s not a hoax.
And Cordish Group? Maybe you should stop bullshit like this before the entire city turns on you.
3 Steve // Jan 5, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Jake, thanks for calling “Cordish Karen” out.
I had contemplated noting (1) this New Years fuster-cluck transpired in a non-locally owned complex of businesses and (2) if I were a religious fanatic, I might think that God was punishing folks who feel no allegiance or loyalty whatsoever toward their neighbors (and their neighbors’ enterprises).
It vexes me that Mayor Abramson, purported Hometown Hero and Cheerleader of Everything Local, would champion The Cordish Group’s competitive assault on homegrown businesses.
I’ve never heard a clear or convincing defense of Metro government using tax dollars to grow non-local chain businesses.
Maybe the Mayor would like to assign one of his overpaid spokespersons to try to justify this untenable policy.
For anyone who loves Louisville, its locally owned bars and restaurants and the fine folks who toil and sacrifice for our premium quality of life, Fourth Street Live and Center City are an outrageous betrayal.
4 David Harpe // Jan 5, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Should be straightforward to get the LMPD run tapes and 911 tapes for that time period via FOIA. Pretty dumb of anyone to try to cover up something like that if it went down as it appears it did.
5 David Dee // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I was at HOTEL on the night in question and had a blast! Sure it was crowded, but it was New Years Eve! Everywhere is crowded on that night. If people were fainting and crying I did not see it and I was in the VIP area that is where this stuff supposedly happened. It was a night of high fives and hugs, not the chaotic scene that a few drunken amateurs are claiming. One last note for the night..Ellen is so smokin hot that I would drink her bath water for ten dollars a cup!
6 Pat // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:23 pm
How about that, something happened at 4th street that got no notice of their wrongdoing,or selective treatment.If something happens at any other place that isn’t protected by the media as 4th St is , the headlines would be all over the Courier.
What action I wonder was taken by the FireMarshall, if any??….Was a citation or ticket issued, that would be public record wouldn’t it.
Of course like all infractions at 4th st. ,even if they are cited , the fines are very small and probably waived!.
What’s wrong with this picture anyway, The city being a 10% partner in 4th street is a conflict, and the lack of info on an issue such as this I guess shows, that what goes out about the Mayors Baby is tempered!
7 Mike // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Sweetie, next time your boss tells you to support your company by impersonating a patron via email, make sure you go to a coffee house or something and not use your work email.
Yes, we can tell.
8 jake // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:30 pm
David– No, nothing occurred in a VIP area. I’m not sure where you’re making that up.
In other news, folks, are you forgetting that we see your IP addresses and know who you are when you comment from CORDISH, of all places? Good god.
Pat – Sources have already gotten in touch with the Fire Marshall.
We hear from LMPD that the night club shut down to avoid an inspection. Turns out the Fire Marshall gave them option to shut down voluntarily at 1:30 or face inspection.
If the Fire Marshall had found them to be over capacity (which they obviously were, or they wouldn’t have shut down), they would have been fined and someone could have faced arrest.
9 Hondo // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:32 pm
You are right David Dee about Ellen , Is she hot or WHAT!….She make $1000 a night there I hear & dosen’t even have to take her clothes off, just imagine what she could do naked!
10 larry Stevens // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:33 pm
New Years Eve there was a blast! The crowd is beyond attractive and I have to say it was worth the 75 dollars I paid to be with my friends and I have no doubt I will be back next weekend!!! Get a life… Why does everyone want to sue or complain about having to wait in line.
11 jake // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Wow, even more Cordish folks leaving comments.
You’d think the company – along with Hotel management and employees – would get a clue?
Apparently not.
In other news: NEWSFLASH, Cordish! Non-Courier-Journal mainstream media is all over this.
12 larry Stevens // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:36 pm
I dont work for Cordish I work in new york fag
13 jake // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:39 pm
And you also have your IP address published, “fag.”
67.90.219.2
ip67-90-219-2.z219-90-67.customer.algx.net
14 derby city espresso // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Not surprised in the least.
15 Carter Burger // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Larry works in New York yet spends his weekends in Louisville?
16 jake // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Carter: You must be a “fag,” too! ha
17 Will // Jan 5, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Myself and a group occupied one of the VIP tables in Hotel on NYE and paid good money for it. Although the night ended shorter than anticipated, all of us agreed the money paid was in every way worth it, and plan to go back next NYE. The staff did an excellent job accomodating our party and had a blast.
When you put a lot of “drinkers” in one crowded spot on a huge party night it can get messy. One of the people in our group was involved in the “rush” that ended the evening and agreed it was overblown. A lot of people have a tendency to exaggerrate a situation that everyone seems to be gossiping about, especially when alcohol is involved.
From my perspective the staff tried as best they could to handle the situation. When it escalated they worked in compliment, not in conflict with police personnel that arrived.
That’s just from my perspective, how I saw it unfold and like I stated earlier, we all had a blast and plan to return next NYE.
18 jake // Jan 5, 2009 at 6:35 pm
So far, none of the eight people I’ve spoken with (some of whom are elected officials), the police department or fire marshal think anything is overblown or exaggerated.
19 John // Jan 5, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Anyone who goes to 4th Street Live deserves to be caught in a stampede.
20 Steve // Jan 5, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Right on, John.
Reading the shallow comments of all these shallow revelers reminds me that Fourth Street Live is nothing more than a commercialized frat row.
It’s difficult to believe these asshats (who supposedly had a blast and will empty their wallets again next year) aren’t Cordish shills.
21 Cordish Hen // Jan 5, 2009 at 8:37 pm
“Hotel is the best bar in the u.s hands down. We are so good in fact that the city bailed us out of our debt. It’s easy and fair pickings in Louisville on all of you piddly local bars and restaurants to put you out of business. Therefore we rawk (hard!) and you are screwed. Ha ha!”.
Signed -
Cordish Hen
22 Jake2 // Jan 5, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I was at Hotel from about 10pm to 1:15 AM. We decided just after 1:00 to head over to Angel’s Rock Bar, since the music they were playing in Hotel was the same skanky music they play in Sully’s (which I hate.) Funny thing how Hotel’s playlist went mainstream on a big night.
Anyhow, we started walking from the TV screen near the VIP area over to the entrance hallway to cut through the door into Angel’s, and it literally took us about 15-20 minutes until we got out of there.
There were entirely too many people in the bar, and the authorities rightfully shut down the irresponsible operation. I strongly encourage both Cordish and the owners of Hotel/Angel’s Rock Bar to be more respectful not only of their community’s laws but more importantly the lives of their patrons, which were endangered that night.
The accounts you published are mostly correct. LMPD officers on the scene had a tough time just getting into the club because of the sheer number of people trying to leave through that long, pointless hallway. In the hallway, I wouldn’t say panic was necessarily in the air – people were just buzzed and turning frustrated because the bouncers on duty that night couldn’t do what has to be the easiest job in the world correctly.
Once in Angel’s, we had a great time, and it was NOT overcrowded, but due to the idiots running things over at Hotel, we were kicked out at about 1:45 when the DJ was forced to shut the club down as well. Oddly enough, everyone was funneled into Tengo Sed Cantina, which itself was too packed so we all left.
Bottom line: Hotel sucks, and more and more people are realizing it every weekend. Beware the fate of Red Cheetah!!
4th street on new year’s? Never again… and I’m glad I didn’t waste any money on a VIP booth that was cut short!
23 junction jack // Jan 6, 2009 at 12:09 am
My wife and I were at Hotel New Year’s Eve. I have no idea where this wacky story came from. We had a wonderful time there – not only did they serve us 19 free bottles of champagne, but they brought us nine plates of surf and turf, shined our shoes, took our dogs out for a crap, AND they gave us the winning numbers to the Powerball!!!
And what’s more? We got Rick Pitino! For free! He’s now our property! Suck on that!
This story about a stampede is bogus – a rodeo clown came into the club! You don’t get the difference between a guy in a bucket and terror? I can’t believe this.
I’d say more, but I have to go back to drinking one of my wonderful bottles of champagne Hotel gave me.
Signed,
Mr. Cordish Game Hen
24 Joel // Jan 6, 2009 at 12:54 am
Isn’t the closest firehouse to Fourth Street Live the one Mayor Abramson wants to close down?
25 Greg // Jan 6, 2009 at 1:03 am
With all the bla,bla,bla, bullshit being thrown about, does anyone know the correct capacity level of the club, what the hell!. It’s not to difficult to determine that? I f I had to bet? & I’m a betting man, I’d bet a nickle to a donut there is no record of a citation or an inspection, so who knows ?
However one thing for sure ,if the clubs upstairs at 4th street ever have a unfortunate emergency where the place needs to be evacuated quickly, there is going to be a lot of people injured trying to get down those stairs in a panic situation, I’ll bet 90% of the prtrons who visit those upstairs clubs at 4th streetcouldn’t begin to tell you where any other exits are except the steps that lead upstairs, probably no one can tell you where the extrta or alternative exits are that will get you out of those places ,they are poorley marked, usually blocked, and not well maintained.
People are creatures of Habit and will run for the entrance or the way they came in,during a panic situation…..so if people were getting tramped on in a simple non-panic , “we’re just closing so everyone get out type confusing situation”?
Try & think what would have happened if you’d add ,Emergency, Hysteria, Panic,Fear,Anger,Terror and all the other uncontrolable emotions that come with an emergency and threat of LIFE condition?
Tell how they would have fared getting 1000′s of people down a couple of sets of stairs that are inadequate exits.
The people would have been piled up four feet high!
26 Polar // Jan 6, 2009 at 1:05 am
Many more good reasons why I don’t go downtown to party, never go to 4th St. Live, and stay home on Amateur Night (aka New Years Eve).
I remember when the 4th St. mall was built. It was a mistake that ruined downtown Louisville, and they’ve been trying to fix it ever since. Maybe, just maybe, if they turned 4th st. into a STREET again???????
27 btucker // Jan 6, 2009 at 1:07 am
Why anyone is silly enough to pay for a VIP booth in any of those dumps is beyond me. It’s all the same bar with the same shallow pricks you went to high school with. Go to Patrick’s and get a real buzz.
28 Terri // Jan 6, 2009 at 9:54 am
I’m with you, BTucker. And just because all the Cordish cronies be up in here spamming comments with ad copy, I’d like to suggest Third Street Dive for live downtown entertainment and Freddie’s for all your drinking, boxing, and jukebox needs. I’m still mourning the loss of the D. Marie and all the swank titty bars that were downtown when I first moved here.
29 DJ Joe Dubb // Jan 6, 2009 at 1:24 pm
I have been disenchanted with 4th Street Live for sometime now. And I used to work there! Although i don’t care for the music or the people, I thank God 4th street is here, because it keeps all of the pricks and socialites out of the Granville, the Nachbar, Darkstar Tavern and all of the other local joints my friends and I frequent. So i guess there has to be a Ying to the yang, right?
30 Steve // Jan 6, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I am glad that I do not work at 4th Street anymore, however while I was a manager at one of the bars there I kept telling them that endangering people without caring about what might happen was not a good idea. There are a whole lot worse things happening at 4th Street than just a little over crowding. Several months ago a minor passed out upstairs and necessary EMS help was delayed being called just so the minor could be moved out of the bar they were in to prevent scrutinizing of that bar. 4th Street and the Cordish Group should be investigated as soon as possible.
31 DJ Joe Dubb // Jan 6, 2009 at 6:27 pm
I mean, if people only knew have of the things like that Steve, the things that go down behind closed doors, 4th Street would be viewed in a whole different light.
32 JTT // Jan 6, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Well, I wasn’t there, but a good buddy of mine was working off-duty there that night. He said the biggest problem was when a soldier started flashing a gun around (didn’t shoot) and they kept getting reports of it. People started freaking out and the off duty guys at 4SL even had to call for help from the off duty guys working at City Block! (And given how crazy that place gets, that is saying something.) Couldn’t expect help from the on-duty guys, they were swamped with the usual NYE mess.
I agree with Greg, the place is a disaster waiting to happen. There is little consistency of action since each business is separate, and I’ll bet they’ve never discussed what to do about an emergency in one of the clubs. How would they even communicate it – half the police there are LMPD, the rest are deputies, I’ll bet they can’t even talk on the same radio.
Joel, first response fire is 12th and Jeff, then Floyd and Jefferson, I think. As for occupancy, I have to wonder if they’ve even been asked to post occupancy numbers? But the one guy you don’t mess with is the Fire Marshal!
I agree with another poster, request the tapes.
33 Charlie // Jan 6, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Lucky you. You found a Cordish comment. You guys kill me.
34 jake // Jan 6, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Well, “Chas”, it probably wouldn’t be a big deal if they weren’t pretending to be some random patron.
35 papa Jack // Jan 7, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Give me a BREAK!….No One is going to take the Effort or Expense to hold their feet to the fire at 4th street , It would have to be someone who could out spend Mayor “Happy Pants”…..You’d Also! just be paying to try to outspend youself, cause the city is spending YOUR tax $$$ to support 4th street….WTF!….They are Entittled everyone knows that.
As far as all the damage control that has gone on at 4th St Live,Is obvious that if an investigative reporter dug into those issues, he’d be Blackballed, by the Mayor along with whatever entity he reported for, and would be unwelcomed at the Citys weekly Press meetings,..
36 B // Feb 26, 2009 at 7:29 pm
1st off I worked at the shithole and yes it’s the shittiest place I’ve ever lowered my standards to be employed at! They screw you by messing with your hours on your paycheck and managers pocket more money in one night than most make in a month. They get their bonus by making numbers look good and bringing in alcohol from liquor stores (in turn corporate thinks their cost is down) when it’s not it’s just a numbers game. Anyone in a nightclub business runs it crooked! And the cops at 4th street are there pd off by 4th street they don’t serve the people they take shots and sleep with shot girls! Dirty business
37 B // Feb 26, 2009 at 7:38 pm
O and when I say cops I speak of the few dirtbags in Louisville! Most are very respectable! Just like everywhere u always have a few bad apples making the real ones look bad! Very sad- my opinion!
Leave a Comment