Skip to main content
Rain icon
35º

What Fox Theatre owners said about bouncing balcony at Detroit rap concert

Video of swaying balcony concerned some

DETROIT – A circulating video of a balcony bouncing amid a rap concert at Fox Theatre had some worried about the Detroit venue’s safety. But officials say everything’s working as designed.

Rapper Gunna’s performance in Detroit on Monday, May 6 went viral when a video captured a balcony shaking and swaying under the feet of fans. After Gunna posted the video of him performing his smash hit to his Instagram page, thousands of people appeared to wonder if the Fox was safe.

Ilitch Entertainment, which owns the Detroit venue, said the swaying was normal, and not unsafe. In fact, the bouncing of the balcony was due to how the balcony was actually engineered.

“This capability is an integral part of the balcony’s structural engineering design. Regular inspections, most recently conducted in April, are completed to ensure the integrity and safety of the structure.”

Ilitch Sports + Entertainment

Fan Aiden Binder was sitting right below the balcony during the concert. He wasn’t shaken by the swaying structure, though.

“I trust them, and it was such a good experience that I would do it again,” said Binder.

The Fox Theatre has a seating capacity of about 5,000. It has been open since 1928, when it was first a movie theater.

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 24: A general view of the atmosphere during Joe Bonamassa in concert at Fox Theatre on November 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images) (2017 Marcus Ingram)

Recommended Videos