This year, instead of the expected 85,000 visitors, only 61,000 metal fans were allowed to party at the four-day heavy metal festival in Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein. Continuous rain had turned the square into a mudfield, and the organizers were forced to stop admission before the start for safety reasons. The 32nd edition of the festival came to an end on Sunday night. The excluded music fans should get the 299 euros for the ticket reimbursed, but according to the organizers, this means that they will lose several million euros.
“It’s a third of our revenue,” said festival co-founder Thomas Jensen. It’s not that difficult to calculate mathematically. “23,500 times 299, and then you get pretty close somewhere.” According to Jensen’s bill, income of more than seven million euros is missing. “Despite a bad start, we managed to get in a good mood,” said Jensen. The metal scene is still starving after the pandemic. He is optimistic about the future. “The ticket price is the least evil.” Co-founder Holger Hübner made a similar statement. The economic questions will be discussed after the end of the festival from Monday. “It’s not about money here. Then you wouldn’t have done it anyway.”
Right of first refusal for ticket holders excluded from the festival
As a further consolation for the excluded ticket holders, they will be given the right of first refusal for the tickets for the upcoming “Wacken Open Air” 2024. Advance sales begin on Sunday evening at 8 p.m. In a show accompanied by drone installations, the organizers announced the first 33 bands for the festival next year on Saturday evening: The Scorpions are to appear as one of the headliners. Amon Amarth, In Extremo, Blind Guardian and Knorkator have also been announced.
Meanwhile, the police and emergency services gave a positive assessment of the four-day festival. “That was by far the safest Wacken Open Air – also in relation to the somewhat reduced number of participants, it somehow welded us together,” said Chief Police Director Frank Matthiesen. Officials registered very few crimes. “Nothing serious happened here,” said the leader of the rescue team, Volker Böhm. Paramedics would have provided 2,500 services and brought 120 visitors to hospitals. Most of these have already been released.
Almost 70 tractor drivers are available to provide support when you leave
Tens of thousands of fans made their way home on Sunday morning. Although the weather has improved over the past few days and many areas of mud have dried, tractors were once again available to help the fans when they left. According to the organizers, almost 70 tractor drivers are working in shifts. “They mill away the ruts so that everything dries again,” said Jan Struve from the event team.
The police appealed to visitors to return sober and not under the influence of narcotics when driving. On the day of departure, the police want to carry out priority traffic checks. Vehicles should be cleared of the coarsest mud and dirt beforehand in order to prevent dirt on the road and damage to your own car.