Amid the massive crowds that arrived at the U.S. Capitol for the inauguration , about 4,000 ticket holders were unable to gain entry to reserved areas on the Capitol grounds after security personnel closed the gates at the start of the formal ceremony . Many ticket holders were stuck in underground tunnels where pedestrian traffic was directed to and from the National Mall . People dubbed one such tunnel " the Purple Tunnel of Doom " , after the purple tickets that would-be viewers held . Others remained stuck in long lines as they waited to gain entry to the reserved areas . Senator Dianne Feinstein , in her capacity as chair of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies , launched an investigation to address complaints by the affected ticket holders . The committee later announced that ticket holders who were unable to enter the Capitol grounds to view the ceremony would receive a copy of the swearing-in invitation and program , photos of President Obama and Vice President Biden and a color print of the inaugural ceremony
Purple Tunnel of Doom
Purple Tunnel of Doom
First inauguration of Barack Obama