Stage being set for Luke Bryan concert Oct. 12

By Rupert Howell

Soybeans have been cut, wheat has been planted and fertilized, cotton bolls are opening and tickets are for sale online for the Wednesday, October 12 Luke Bryan Farm Tour concert to be held between the cotton patches of FT Farms on Macedonia Road west of Batesville.
Panola County’s Emergency Management Coordinator Daniel Cole confirmed that Bryan’s organizers have met with local emergency responders and law enforcement agencies recently to iron out potential problems including traffic, communication, security with other emergency responding agencies such as ambulance services, Mississippi Department of Transportation, Highway Patrol, Red Hill Fire Department to be ready for a crowd that could be up to 20,000.
Cole said final plans would be made up to 72 hours prior to the event depending on ticket sales between now and then.
He expects 90 percent of traffic to approach from Highway 6/278 to the concert site where a large field has been readied for parking only awaiting a rain to jump start wheat planted there. Exiting will be two directions, back to Highway 6 or to Curtis Road.
Nearby is another large field where property owners John and Amy Thomas expect a stage to be circled by 18-wheelers used to bring Bryan’s props and equipment as well as tour buses and metal fencing to surround the outdoor venue.
Bryan has been the recipient of Academy of Country Music awards and the Country Music Association “Entertainer of the Year” award, selling over seven million albums and 27 million singles worldwide as of 2015.
Ticket prices online are listed between $64 and $1,776 for meet and greet tickets with parking passes available ranging from $19 to $1,402.
Message boards will be placed along the Highway to direct traffic to the site according to Cole who said light towers and personnel will be located at every intersection exiting the area including the Curtis Road exit route to safely direct traffic back to the main roads from the event.
“We don’t want anybody to get lost,” Cole said.