Garth Brooks concert in Nashville to be rescheduled after storms shut down stadium

Severe thunderstorms rolled through Nashville Saturday night, prompting Nissan Stadium officials to postpone a Garth Brooks concert that drew tens of thousands to the outdoor venue.

A plan to move the concert to Sunday night was also scuttled.

Organizers expect to reschedule the show for a to-be-announced date in the near future, according to a Nissan Stadium statement published early Sunday on social media.

Officials at the stadium announced a "lightning advisory" Saturday around 7:50 p.m., a few songs into an opening set from the Grand Ole Opry that featured country singers Chris Young, Emmylou Harris and Trisha Yearwood, plus longtime announcer Bill Cody.

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Concert-goers were asked to shelter inside the stadium concourse, where some kicked off singalongs to Brooks' biggest hits while waiting out heavy rain and lightning in the crowded halls.

The delay continued for more than an hour before the venue announced a postponement at 9:17 p.m. Concert organizers were "working with local officials in an attempt to reschedule" for Sunday night, Nissan Stadium said via Twitter, but ultimately they decided to hold off for a later date.

"Unfortunately we were unable to secure adequate safety personnel and provide our standard of fan experience in order to move forward with the concert on Sunday evening," Nissan Stadium posted around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Brooks' team said Friday that the show had sold more than 70,000 tickets — a Nissan Stadium record and what was supposed to be one of the largest music events in Nashville since COVID-19 restrictions lifted earlier this year. The stop is part of Brooks' rescheduled stadium tour, which takes the seven-time CMA Entertainer of the Year to some of the largest concert venues in the U.S. this fall.

Purchased tickets and Nissan Stadium parking passes will be honored at the rescheduled date.

"More information on ticket options will be provided in the very near future," the statement said.

Speaking to reporters Friday, Brooks said the tour follows state, local and venue COVID-19 guidelines when gathering thousands for a concert. COVID-19 cases continue to rise due to in-part to the highly contagious Delta variant.

Masks aren't required at Nashville's Nissan Stadium, an outdoor facility, but venue management encourages unvaccinated ticketholders to wear a face covering. Tour workers remain under a mask mandate until next January, Brooks said.

"Our job is to gather people in mass numbers," Brooks said. "If that's a bad thing, we need to stand back. That's what we'll do. As much as I hate to do it, it'd be an honor because you're doing your part."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Garth Brooks Nashville concert rescheduled at Nissan Stadium by storms