Backstreet BoysWinStar Storm Incident
Before the scheduled concert, WinStar said it began evacuating the outdoor venue after lightning was observed within four miles of the casino. About 150 patrons reportedly remained in line; around 5:30 p.m., 70–80 mph winds and heavy rain knocked down entrance trusses / a metal awning at the venue entrance, injuring concertgoers. The show was then cancelled, and later reports said it was not rescheduled. The National Weather Service’s August 2018 storm data for Love County records thunderstorm wind damage at WinStar casino and states that winds blew over a metal awning resulting in 14 hospitalizations.
Incident Overview
What happened
Incident name: Backstreet Boys (Outdoor Concert at WinStar World Casino). Sources also describe it as the Backstreet Boys / 98 Degrees show at WinStar World Casino and Resort.
Date: 18 August 2018. The user’s date matches contemporary reporting and the National Weather Service storm record for Love County, Oklahoma.
Location: WinStar World Casino and Resort, 777 Casino Ave., Thackerville, Oklahoma 73459, Love County, United States. Contemporary reporting places the incident at the outdoor concert venue / entrance area at WinStar in Thackerville.
Summary: Before the scheduled concert, WinStar said it began evacuating the outdoor venue after lightning was observed within four miles of the casino. About 150 patrons reportedly remained in line; around 5:30 p.m., 70–80 mph winds and heavy rain knocked down entrance trusses / a metal awning at the venue entrance, injuring concertgoers. The show was then cancelled, and later reports said it was not rescheduled. The National Weather Service’s August 2018 storm data for Love County records thunderstorm wind damage at WinStar casino and states that winds blew over a metal awning resulting in 14 hospitalizations.
Outcome
Injuries and fatalities
Reported injuries: 14 injured / taken to hospital is the consistent official figure across the main reports; some sources add that two were released soon after. A local follow-up report includes witness accounts of head injuries and one person briefly unconscious, but those details were witness statements rather than the official casualty total.
Reported fatalities: No fatalities found in the sources reviewed. The National Weather Service storm entry for the Love County event records 14 injuries and 0 deaths.
Check disputed details →Key Figures
Reported scale
Chronology
Incident sequence
Operational Details
Key issues
Disputed Details
Conflicting information
The source set is broadly consistent on the injury total, but differs on the structure description and evacuation wording.
Source 1: CBS / ABC / Irish Times describe “trusses” or “entrance trusses” falling at the venue entrance.
Source 2: KXII headline and witness language describe a “tent” collapse; KDKA refers to a “temporary wall”; NWS storm data says “metal awning.”
Notes: These sources appear to describe the same storm-damaged entrance structure from different perspectives. The official NWS wording is “metal awning,” while multiple news reports use “entrance trusses.”
Source 1: WinStar statement says officials “began evacuation” and that patrons were asked to move and seek shelter.
Source 2: Injured attendees interviewed by KXII said they were advised to seek shelter but were told it was not mandatory.
Notes: This is a conflict between the venue’s official account and attendee recollections.
Source 1: Official venue statements consistently report 14 injured / transported, with two released soon after.
Source 2: Witness accounts reported at least one unconscious person and bloody head wounds.
Notes: The witness descriptions concern severity and scene details, not the overall official injury count.
Not Verified
Unverified details
Details that were not confirmed in the reviewed source material.
Source Material
References
Reference material identified in the incident research document.
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