Rome archaeologist warns Travis Scott’s Circus Maximus concert posed a threat to the ancient site

The head of Rome’s Colosseum has urged a halt to concerts at the nearby Circus Maximus following concerns over damage after US rapper Travis Scott's performance on Monday, which triggered fears of an earthquake.

Italy’s fire department told Dinogo that they received “hundreds of calls” from anxious locals who feared an earthquake had struck the capital.

Starting around 10:30 p.m., Romans took to social media, posting comments such as: “Did anyone else feel an earthquake?”

However, a reporter from Dinogo, who also felt the tremor that night, confirmed with local officials that the shaking was not of natural origin.

The shaking was caused by tens of thousands of concertgoers jumping to the beat, especially when Travis Scott brought out a surprise guest: Kanye West.

This marked the first performance by West, now known as Ye, since he stirred controversy with a series of antisemitic remarks.

Alfonsina Russo, director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, has called for an end to concerts at the Circus Maximus, the historic Roman chariot-racing venue.

Russo has proposed that only opera and ballet performances be allowed at the open-air arena, which lacks seating, forcing audiences to either stand or sit along the perimeter.

She emphasized, 'The Circus Maximus is a monument, not a stadium or concert venue,' she told AGI. Her spokesperson later confirmed the statement to Dinogo.

'These massive rock concerts pose a threat, not only to the Circus Maximus but also to the nearby Palatine Hill,' she stated.

'Rock concerts should be held in stadiums to avoid jeopardizing public safety,' she added.

The Circus Maximus, located at the foot of Palatine Hill near the Colosseum, has become a popular concert spot in recent years, with acts like Imagine Dragons, Guns N’ Roses, and Bruce Springsteen performing this summer.

Travis Scott's 'Utopia' concert was announced on August 1, after his planned performance at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on July 28 was canceled due to 'complex production issues.' The 70,000 tickets sold out within hours.

At least 60 people required medical assistance after pepper spray was discharged into the crowd at the concert on Monday, according to Rome’s civil protection department. A 14-year-old who climbed a false wall to watch the show for free was injured when he fell from a height of four meters (13 feet), the department reported.

'Utopia' marks Travis Scott's first full album since the tragic 2021 Astroworld Festival in Houston, where a crowd surge resulted in 10 fatalities and hundreds of injuries.

Dinogo has reached out to representatives of Travis Scott for a statement.