Mid-State Fair hires Super Bowl experts to deal with traffic, crowds

In anticipation of two sold-out Garth Brooks concerts at this summer’s California Mid-State Fair, fair officials are bringing aboard a crowd control expert.

Peter Kranske will “oversee and develop a comprehensive traffic, safety and crowd control plan” for July 27, when Brooks is slated to perform with wife Trisha Yearwood at the Paso Robles Event Center, fair spokesman Tom Keffury said Thursday.

“Along with the city of Paso Robles, and the county of San Luis Obispo, we are being as pro-active as possible to ensure a safe and fun evening for everyone,” Keffury said.

News of Kranske’s hire came just hours after Brooks’ second fair concert sold out in less than 30 seconds.

Concertgoers and resellers on Thursday gobbled up all 14,875 tickets for a second show less than a minute after they went on sale via Ticketmaster, Keffury said.

That speedy sell-out came less than a week after Brooks’earlier July 27 concert became the fastest-selling show in fair history. On June 23, ticket buyers — the majority of them local fans — snapped up 14,875 seats in less than 30 seconds.

Brooks will perform at the Paso Robles Event Center for the first time at 7:30 p.m., and take the Chumash Grandstand Arena stage again at 10:30 p.m.

Overseeing the action during will be Kranske, president and CEO of Landmark Event Staffing Services Inc. of Fort Collins, Colorado.

According to a bio released by the fair, Kranske directed crowd management operations at 29 consecutive Super Bowls and oversaw crowd management and security for two World Cups. He also handled security and crowd management for Michael Jackson and his family’s 1984 Victory Tour.

Asked whether Kranske will oversee crowd control for other fair events, Keffury said he couldn’t offer details yet.

Brooks, whose hits include “Friends in Low Places” and “Unanswered Prayers,” is making his debut at the Paso Robles Event Center. Yearwood, best known for the song “How Do I Live,” has performed at the fair three times — headlining in 1995 and 1997, and opening for Don Henley in 2002.

The California Mid-State Fair runs July 19-30 at the Paso Robles Event Center. For more information, call 1-800-909-FAIR (3247) or visit www.midstatefair.com/fair.

This story was originally published June 30, 2017 at 7:33 AM with the headline "Mid-State Fair hires Super Bowl experts to deal with traffic, crowds."