Tampa police shut down ‘Rick & Morty’ rickmobile event after crowd surpassed 1,500
TAMPA — More than 1,500 fans of the definitely-not-for-little-kids cartoon Rick and Morty overtook a bar and its Waters Avenue neighborhood Wednesday night, creating such a big crowd that the event was riggity riggity wrecked when Tampa police officers and organizers had to end it early.
Rick and Morty is an animated science fiction comedy about the interdimensional adventures of depraved scientist Rick (riggity riggity wrecked is his way of saying something has gone wrong) and his anxious grandson Morty, a cult hit for Cartoon Network.
The “Rickmobile” — a truck bearing Rick’s likeness — has been taking a road trip across the country, opening its popup shop with exclusive merchandise and gear in different cities.
Wednesday was Tampa’s turn. And the event was about as chaotic as an episode of Rick and Morty: Fans parked on lawns, littered and drank outside designated areas, ignoring instructions from the tavern and police.
Lowry Parcade & Tavern co-owner Cliff Stevenson, a huge fan of the show, said he’s sympathetic to those who were turned away.
“We did everything we could,” he said Thursday. “The line was simply more than was expected from both parties and what we could handle.”
The bar’s other owner, Robert Leonard, said the bar itself reached capacity by 6 p.m. So workers could only let people in as others left, creating another line.
“Between the poor setup, the lack of parking, the lack of places to stand, and the obvious lack of organization — no wonder it was shut down,” said attendee Jon Lee, 30, of Temple Terrace.
Lines to see the Rickmobile, buy merchandise and enter the Parcade, 1213 W Waters Ave., snaked through the neighborhood. Lee said when people in line stood on the grass, neighbors were upset, but when they were in the street, the off-duty officers hired to monitor the event told them to move.
The waiting line had to be capped at 1,500 people — which happened at about 5:30 p.m. But that didn’t stop hundreds more from showing up, Lee said.
The Parcade opened at 3 p.m. and the truck was scheduled to begin sales at 5 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. Lee said he got in line to see the Rickmobile and buy his gear by 4:15 p.m. Worried about the line, the truck started selling merchandise early, at 4:30 p.m.
Then around 7:30 p.m., police stopped the sale and told people to leave. The bar owners said the decision to close was a joint one.
Lee said it should have been held at a bigger venue that could accommodate the massive crowd that turned up to celebrate the show. His partner even spent the day under the hot sun in an elaborate Mr. Meeseeks costume so people probably assumed he was a Rickmobile employee.
The owners welcome anyone disappointed and in need of hugs (or beer) to come back on Sunday nights. That’s Rick and Morty night, where they watch the show from 11 p.m. to midnight.
© 2017 Tampa Bay Times