Towerlight: Tigerfest Moves to Unitas Stadium

The Towerlight reports that Tigerfest, Towson University's annual large-scale outdoor concert will be moving from Burdick Field to Johnny Unitas Stadium and taking place a little later than usual, on Friday, May 6.

Tigerfest typically includes one national musical act, smaller bands and one act with TU connections. Past performers have included The Roots, Dashboard Confessional, N.E.R.D. and All-American Rejects. Besides music, there are games, food vendors and a beer garden.

The move had been under consideration in the past, but this will be the first time the annual event has been held someplace other than Burdick Field, near Towsontown Boulevard. Unitas Stadium is in a more isolated part of campus, near the university's border with Rodgers Forge.

Next year will be the first Tigerfest held on a Friday. Officials say the date was changed to minimize weather risks and avoid conflict with CAA lacrosse tournament games in the stadium.

Officials say the switch in date and venue may also help alleviate community concerns. Most notably, in 2008, rapper Immortal Technique used numerous profanities as part of his act, resulting in numerous complaints from nearby Southland Hills residents.

"It was pretty rowdy in some neighborhoods on the day of Tigerfest," Bridget Chase, the university's assistant director of student activities, told The Towerlight. "We really just want to try and make sure the students are safe and the neighbors are safe as well. Hopefully this move will help impact that in a positive way."

We'll have more on this story on Wednesday.