Harry Styles' world tour is reviewing its staging after fans reported obstructed views at opening shows in Amsterdam, BBC News reported. The Together, Together tour launched with a run of 10 shows in the Dutch city, but a number of concertgoers said they were unable to see Styles for much of the evening.
The tour's official representative told BBC Newsbeat the floor concept was designed to give fans freedom but that all areas with restricted eyelines are being reviewed. The staging uses a pit layout in which fans who buy special packages stand in one of four sections within the stage while Styles performs around them. The sections are surrounded by 10-foot-tall walkways, which fans at the back of the floor said blocked their view.
Styles' team said the idea was "to give fans the ability to experience the show from different positions rather than being confined to one fixed viewing angle," adding that the open, free-flowing floor concept "has always been an essential part of Harry's live shows." They said restricted areas were being "adjusted where possible in compliance with all safety restrictions."
Fan Nadia Wesseling paid €350 for her ticket, which included early entry to be at the front. The 19-year-old said she was standing at the barrier to the stage in Amsterdam. "It turned out that pretty much every spot in the first few rows had an obstructed view," she told BBC Newsbeat. "I even heard that people further back were also dealing with an obstructed view." She said the stage design was done "really badly" and added: "I just think it's ridiculous how they thought people were going to be satisfied after paying that much money to then only see him walk past like five times."
Despite that, Wesseling said she still had the best time overall.
Daniel O'Conner, another Amsterdam attendee who described himself as an avid concertgoer, said he had "never experienced this issue before." He noted that fans with cheaper seats further back appeared to have better sightlines than those near the stage. O'Conner said he was pleased changes were coming but that it was a shame for those who attended the early shows.
The tour has 67 dates spread across only seven cities, including 30 nights in New York City, 12 in London, and 10 in Amsterdam. The limited locations have drawn separate criticism from fans who said they face additional costs for hotels and travel. According to BBC Newsbeat, changes to the staging are expected to be in place for the London shows in June and July.
