'He's amazing': Garth Brooks fans brush off delays, long lines to enjoy the party
Fans leaving the Garth Brooks concert at Commonwealth Stadium Friday night were happy and smiling, despite some logistical issues that delayed the show and frustrated some.
"Amazing energy. He's amazing, I almost cried on one of the songs that he was singing about someone that he cured cancer for them. It was really, really nice," said Evelyn, a young woman in a cowboy hat.
"It was super awesome. Garth performed so amazing, as always, and we had a really good time."
Larry and Lorraine drove about five hours from Eston, Sask. to see the country star at the first of two sold-out Edmonton shows.
"(The show was) fantastic, so glad he came to Canada and so glad he came to Edmonton. He has a heart for people and when he performs his heart is on his sleeve and he really cares about what he does," Lorraine told CTV News Edmonton outside of the stadium.
Brooks started the show late because of "delays on the highway and the park & ride" and reports of some confusion at the stadium surfaced online.
"Know your gate and be prepared for little direction. It’s a gong show here. They’re rusty. Super super rusty," Tweeted Erin Stevenson, a city councillor in Spruce Grove. "The positive? People are being very kind to each other. Genuinely happy."
"You couldn't move at some points. Definitely not COVID friendly, but the merch was long and the beer and lines and stuff was long, but it was worth it," said fan Caitlin after the show. She said she waited about 45 minutes to buy a souvenir.
Others seemed to forget all about the hassles that can come with a big event once the music started.
"All of Edmonton and surrounding areas coming together at once, finally, it's so nice to be out in public again with each other. That was the best part," said a smiling woman named Cassidy as she was leaving.
Brooks also enjoyed himself, saluting the city and the country in a post-show Tweet.
His second show at Commonwealth is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE @ 1:15 PT B.C. premier to give announcement related to public drug use
B.C.'s premier is scheduled to give an update Friday about public drug use in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.