ORLANDO, Fla. — Over 65,000 hip-hop fans are expected to pack Camping World Stadium each day this weekend as the Rolling Loud Festival takes over Orlando.
It’s just the latest major event to come to Orlando, and the Orlando Police Department says they’re ready.
“We are bringing in a couple hundred officers who are dedicated to this event. So, they’ll be working inside of the stadium, around the stadium, and you’ll see them from the time you park your car if you park downtown,” said OPD Chief Eric Smith. “And if you walk down, they’ll assist you to get into the stadium, and we’re there to keep everyone safe.”
This is the first time this festival will take center stage in The City Beautiful, bringing with it fans and foot traffic for local businesses.
Smith says that despite his department’s experience with big events, this one is unique.
“Everything else you see in the city, you’ve seen Pro Bowls, you’ve seen big time basketball games, you’ve seen big soccer matches and you’ve seen Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), which is a big festival,” Smith explained. “But we’ve hosted those before. This is a onetime thing, at least for this year, so we don’t know what to expect.”
A special event zone designated for the festival allows for increased fines and other enforcement mechanisms along roads like Orange Blossom Trail, Colonial Drive and John Young Parkway around the stadium.
Smith says it will enable law enforcement a chance to better control traffic and keep people safe.
With so many people, Chanel Benjamin, who traveled from Brevard County, says she knows safety is of the utmost importance.
“I know the police are really going to be doing their jobs, and they’re really going to be doing their due diligence. There’s going to be a lot of people that are going to be trying to avoid that regardless of the situation, especially being that there’s going to be a lot of tourists,” Benjamin said. “And they don’t understand that Orlando police don’t play that. So, wherever you’re parked incorrectly, you’re going to get towed. So, don’t park on the streets and don’t park on any no parking zones.”
While OPD will be ready to take action if needed, Smith hopes the phrase “special event zone” is the last thing on anyone’s mind.
“As always, as a police department, my biggest goal is for nothing to happen and for everybody to have a fun and safe weekend,” Smith said.
Smith is also reminding people to stay hydrated in the hot weather and keep a calm and patient head to avoid any conflicts.
The special event zone will stay in effect until Monday at 8 a.m.