2/12/2015
By IVAN PEREIRA and NOELANI MONTERO
Kayne West’s concert at Madison Square Park Thursday night drew in thousands of fans and spectators, despite the backlash from Flatiron community and business leaders.
A long line of concertgoers had to go through three blocks of barricaded streets to get to the free show at Flatiron Pedestrian Plaza inside Madison Square Park. The 37-year-old rapper’s fans braved the freezing temperatures and the small green space and were thrilled with a big screen, bright lights and plenty of tunes.
“For Kanye this is brilliant,” Carlos Ubilla, 29, of Jamiaca said. “It kinda brings everyone in. When you hear how loud the music is it might have an effect.”
The packed show worried Community Board 5 and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, who pushed the city to reconsider holding the concert at the park. Brewer said she couldn’t fathom why Roc Nation, Jay Z’s media company which produced the show, didn’t stage the concert at a bigger outdoor space such as Times Square.
Some of the concertgoers said they had no problem with the tighter quarters of Madison Square Park, however.
“I like that it’s a small park. Unlike other big festivals they don’t capture as much energy as a smaller event would,” said Ricardo Barahona, 20, of Washington D.C.
Mike Martinez, 42, of the Upper West Side, said he thought the concert was well organized.
There were no arrests as of press time.
Before the concert, West debuted his new Addias shoe Yeezy 750 Boost and song “Wolves” at a presentation in Manhattan. His wife, Kim Kardashian, and their daughter North West attended the fashion premiere.
