Correction, May 2, 2014: An earlier version of the article stated that some of the reasons for higher costs were the rental of a food tent and stage for the indoor concert; the article has been amended to say that the tent was already budgeted in and the stage belonged to the College. 

For the first time since 2007, rain forced last Saturday’s Ivies concert indoors. Yet Director of Safety and Security Randy Nichols called the move from Whittier Field to Farley Field House “seamless,” a testament to the general success of the College’s 149th Ivies. 

The notice about the updated concert location came in an all-campus email on Friday morning, when Allen Delong, director of student life, announced that Mat Kearney and Timeflies would perform indoors on Saturday afternoon.

Nichols noted the advantages of a show in Farley.

“We can control access better than we can at Whittier Field,” he said. 

The original rain contingency plan stated that no guests would be allowed due to space concerns, and though a follow-up email on Friday amended the policy to allow two registered guests per student, there was still a decrease in visitors from prior years, Nichols said.

While the rained-out concert in 2007 was in Morrell Lounge, E-Board member Peter Kringdon ’14 stated that, “Having the event in Smith Union might have felt like a non-Ivies E-Board concert.” 

Though using Farley Field House allowed the College to keep the atmosphere at the concert similar to what it would would have been outdoors, it brought a few extra costs, including using a forklift to bring tarps and the rental of a food tent, though some budget had already been allotted for these contingency plans. These factors contributed to a slightly more expensive concert than in previous years,  according to Director of Student Activities Nate Hintze. 

He added that the primary price increase this year was due to the heightened rates of Moonlight Production Company from artist requests, and added equipment costs from the bands. Hintze declined to tell the Orient specific budget information. Though Farley required a different stage than is usually used at Ivies, the College already owned it.

The weekend also brought three alcohol-related student transports—one on Thursday, one on Friday, and one on Saturday. “One was particularly serious, the other two less so,” said Nichols.

“As you have more people drinking more alcohol, the level of risk rises exponentially,” said Nichols. “Ivies is a marathon for Security.” Throughout the weekend, there were three to four times as many Security guards on duty as normal, and they were not allowed to take time off.

There were no arrests or court summons issued by the Brunswick Police Department, and only a few neighborhood noise complaints. Though three students committed two thefts, all stolen items were returned, according to Nichols. 

In other instances of alcohol-related vandalism, three to four doors were kicked in at Brunswick Apartments and one door was kicked in at Harpswell Apartments. The lending library box at the intersection of Longfellow Avenue and Coffin Street was “smashed to smithereens,” said Nichols. The College is planning to replace it. 

Despite the College’s concerns about harm to the floor, there were no damages reported in Farley. The College hired Servpro, a company that specializes in water and fire restoration, to clean up the field house. 

Although the bulk of planning for each year’s Ivies begins during winter break, Student Activities and Security are already looking to next year. Hintze has already booked the stage for the concert.

Other improvements are also on the drawing board. 

“I think we’ll bite the bullet and put some porta-potties on the Brunswick Quad next Ivies,” said Nichols. “The hedges will appreciate it.”