Dam Jam expecting over 5,500 concertgoers, organizers address concerns

GODDARD, Kan. (KSNW) – The Dam Jam Music Festival starts Friday at its new location near the Goddard Walmart . The change from the previous Lake Afton venue was spurred by opposition from some officials and community members, which included concerns over safety .

Goddard has a population size of about 5,000 and is about to have double the number of people in it.

Organizers tell KSN that 5,500 people have already brought tickets to the festival, and they’re expecting even more to show up when it starts.

“We’re expecting 5,500. We’re hoping for 8,500. We would love for the community to step up and come out,” said Dam Jam Vice President Chris Carr.

That amount of people is a lot for Goddard and its tight streets.

“That has been a concern for us as well. We wanna make sure they can get in quickly and get parked,” said CJ Wilson, the president of the production company producing Dam Jam.

All tickets include parking. Organizers say 5-20 parking staff will be working at all times, and signs will be posted.

“How quick can we get them in? We’re not stopping them for anything,” said Wilson.

The festival won’t be able to control where cars come in, but cars that are leaving are a different story.

“Trying to control that in splitting the direction of traffic coming out of there both north and south, that should alleviate most of the pressure,” said Goddard Police Chief Lance Beagley.

The Goddard Police Department will be the main law enforcement agency at the festival. All 14 officers will take turns working at the event so will four of the school district’s seven police officers.

“There will be at least 10 uniformed police officers on the property,” said Chief Beagley.

It will put some strain on the department, but Chief Beagley says officers will still be available to answer calls outside the festival.

“Some of them will be working 12-hour shifts, maybe even up to 14-hour shifts,” said Chief Beagley.

Dam Jam is covering the pay for some officers to be there since they’re on private property.

Goddard police are also expecting help from other sources.

“I’ve also communicated with Kansas Highway Patrol they are going to supplement with staff in the area as far as probably a DUI saturation patrol and extra law enforcement in the area,” said Chief Beagley.

Chief Beagley says the department can contact the nearby Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office if it needs extra help.

KSN reached out to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff had expressed concern about responding to a large-scale event at Lake Afton if there were safety concerns. A spokesperson told KSN on Thursday that Sedgwick County deputies are happy to assist if needed.

Dam Jam will also have private security at the festival. An organizer tells KSN there will be anywhere from 75 to 125 security personnel on-site at all times.

Dam Jam is a two-day music festival that will host 10 different artists. Five artists will perform on Friday, and five will perform on Saturday.

Artists include Brantley Gilbert , Stone Temple Pilots , Dustin Lynch , Jo Dee Messina , Ryan Upchurch , Wheeler Walker Jr. , Demun Jones , Smile Empty Soul , Dusty Leigh , and Blake Banks .

To learn more about Dam Jam, click here.

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