Soulja Boy opened: for Akon last Wednesday night at the UPC spring concert. More than 5,000 students attended the concert. Pete Riley / PHOTO EDITOR
Last Wednesday night, the University Program Council brought Akon with special guest Soulja Boy to the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum for the 2008 spring concert.
“Everything ran smooth,” said Michael Roeder, UPC director of major entertainment and a senior in zoology. “The show started on time and we did not have any security problems. We had some surprises, such as Akon going into the crowd, but the students went crazy when it happened.”
Akon cost the University’s student activities fund more than $76,000, which falls under UPC’s major entertainment budget.
Soulja Boy cost more than $30,000.
Roeder said that more than 5,000 tickets were given out; however, the Coliseum had a 7,000 maximum for the concert.
Admission to the concert was free to all Auburn University students. (click the read link for more photos)
Tickets were available all week before the concert on the Concourse and also April 4 at UPC’s Tiger Nights.
“UPC is pleased that Auburn students enjoyed the spring concert featuring Akon with special guest Soulja Boy,” said Michelle Murphy, UPC adviser.
Akon: performs his hit “Soul Survivor” at UPC’s concert last Wednesday. Pete Riley / PHOTO EDITOR
“The Major Entertainment Committee of UPC worked diligently to plan and execute an urban-hip hop concert.”
Murphy expressed thanks to AU athletic facilities staff, Auburn campus safety, Auburn police department, CSC, Office of the Dean of Students and many others for helping to make the concert a success.
Soulja Boy performed first, taking the stage with his four back-up dancers at 8 p.m.
The UPC spring concert: was held in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. The venue allowed more students to attend a UPC event than ever before. Pete Riley / PHOTO EDITOR
His last song was the famous “Crank That (Soulja Boy),” which is from his debut album “Souljaboytellem.com.”
The hit single spent seven weeks at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 2007.
Akon’s DJ took the stage and entertained the audience until Akon made his appearance.
In order to get audience members excited for Akon, his DJ asked students sitting on the sides of the Coliseum to move down to the floor seating.
Students obeyed his request and swarmed the floor, moving past security which was supposed to save floor seating for wristband holders only.
“It was great being back in the Coliseum,” Roeder said. “It has been a long time since we last had an event in there and it took a lot of pressure off of us knowing that no matter what kind of weather, the event was going to happen. Everyone that was in the crowd seemed to have a great time, and the atmosphere was amazing.”
Kristin Richmond, a freshman in engineering, said she enjoyed the concert.
“Both the artists put on amazing shows. It was such a fun thing to go to,” Richmond said.
April 18, 2008 - 3:15pm
UPC concert
This is an Amazing Article even though it is rraaapppppp! Do they allow that at Auburn?