BCEC grilled on blocked exits at PAX
Doors bolted, locked, duct-taped
The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center is under scrutiny by the city’s Licensing Board after police cited it for impeding an exit — which was duct-taped and bolted locked — during the packed gamers’ convention PAX East in April.
The board heard yesterday about the April 7 incident in which 29,000 gamers were said to be in attendance. Boston police and Licensing Board Commissioner Liam P. Curran raised questions about how blocking the exit in the lobby jeopardized the safety of attendees.
“If there is an emergency, say there was an emergency: gunshot. And there was a crush of people that go through that door, and it’s locked. … What about the people that go through that door?” Curran asked BCEC representatives.
According to a police incident report, “During inspection of the main lobby the detectives observed a large crowd of patrons tightly gathered at a main lobby exit area, that included revolving doors with exit doors to the immediate right and left posted ‘EXIT’. The exit door on the left was found to have stanchions placed inside and outside blocking egress. This door was found to be locked and duct tape placed on the door glass further impeded emergency egress through the door from the inside premise.”
The BCEC was cited by police for impeding the emergency fire exit and was also found not to have a Boston Fire Department Assembly Permit, which was a violation of the Boston Fire Code.
BCEC attorney Dennis Quilty told the board, “There were metal detectors in use at entrances and they had narrowed down the field of entry so that the metal detectors would perform their responsibilities. And that’s the reason why one door was left closed and one open, so they could get through the metal detectors.”
Sgt. Detective Robert Mulvey, who was present during the inspection on April 7, told the board, “The fact you reduced the amount of egress, you have to keep that door opened. And it was locked, and stanchioned and duct-taped. … It was all backed up trying to get out. And there could have been an emergency.”
The board took the issue under advisement yesterday. Members are expected to return to the topic during a meeting tomorrow.