Storm cancels free concert, Imagine Dragons ft. Lil Wayne rehearsal ahead of College Football Playoff National Championship

ByAmanda del Castillo and Julianne Herrera KGO logo
Monday, January 7, 2019
Storm cancels concerts in San Jose, San Francisco
Dozens of people showed up ready to brave the wind and rain, only to find out the show will not go on.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Stormy weather caused the cancellation of two separate musical events in the Bay Area, both connected to the College Football Playoff National Championship.

One was the the Imagine Dragons and Lil Wayne rehearsal on Treasure Island. The two are teaming up for the College Football Playoff Halftime Performance Monday night.

People who had tickets to the rehearsal got an alert Sunday afternoon saying the rehearsal was canceled, "due to high winds and inclement weather."

The same conditions were seen in the South Bay. The weather didn't keep people from College Football Playoff National Championship fun.

San Jose Resident, Fatima Nunez told ABC7 News, "I have like four layers on right now."

RELATED: Sunday storm soaks Bay Area

Cina Ahmadieh-Yavbi said, "Got my poncho ready!"

Sunday's weather conditions meant little to those who lined up outside Discovery Meadow Park in Downtown San Jose. A scheduled evening concert at the park was also cancelled because of weather conditions.

The night would've brought the final performances in AT&T's three-night free concert series ahead of Monday night's match-up.

The Regrettes, Ellie Goulding and One Republic were scheduled to perform.

"Pretty discouraging," Nunez said. "Very disappointed. We waited for a really long time."

ABC7 News spoke with others who traveled a really long distance. Clemson resident and fan, Christman Short said she initially had plans to spend the day in San Francisco, but the weather interfered.

RELATED: College football superfans live atop ESPN billboard in San Jose

The free concert was her Plan B.

"I've always heard that it was beautiful here. That it was gorgeous, that the weather's perfect," Short said about the storm. "But it doesn't surprise me. I did New York in New Year's this past year and it poured. Apparently that was the first time that it had ever done that. So, I'm starting to think it's following me."

Short hopes the misfortune doesn't follow her into the championship game.

RELATED: Ellie Goulding apologizes for canceled free concert in San Jose

Others tell ABC7 News the storm was not enough to dampen spirits across San Jose. The city has been transformed into College Football Playoff central.

"It's the excitement of the national college football competition between Alabama and Clemson, you know," San Jose resident, Matone Thommachakr said. "Just the whole experience, the process here in the Bay Area!"