NYPD Shut Down Adidas 99-Cent Sneaker Stunt on the Bowery Yesterday After it Turned Violent
Police yesterday morning shut down an out-of-control Bowery pop-up selling a limited-edition sneaker collaboration between adidas and AriZona Iced Tea. The huge crowds were the collective answer to the question, what happens when you sell a rare sneaker for 99 cents?
The collaboration yielded two limited-quantity styles – Yung 1 and Continental. Both were available exclusively at the two-day pop-up on the Bowery.
Sneaker-heads began queuing outside 206 Bowery at 3am to guarantee a pair. By yesterday morning, the whole block was mobbed, with throngs of kids spilling into the street. Things turned violent when the crowd learned that there wouldn’t be enough sneakers to go around.
One neighbor relayed a play-by-play:
People were pushing and screaming en masse in the part of the line near 220 Bowery. After crowd/line size went around both sides of the block and got out of control, police and/or the venue cancelled event, only allowing people with ‘bracelet’ to go inside. They had megaphones and were still trying explain that and event cancellation and to get people to disperse earnestly starting at about 10am or 10:15am. Not many in the crowd were leaving as of about 10:20am. Many were yelling and chanting after police announcements. Two ambulances standing by (not sure if they were needed). Numerous police vehicles (approx 8) and officers continued to announce, ‘Event has been closed…’ crowd finally dispersed at about 10:30am, some info traffic.
Police ultimately canceled the event and made two arrests, according to Gothamist.
The NYPD had to shut down Adidas’ Arizona Iced Tea pop-up shop in NYC. What happens when you try to sell 99-cent shoes. pic.twitter.com/qbAAONFsnb
— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) July 18, 2019
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