Too busy?

[Sam Crawley]

Just got back and what a fantastic festival! One observation though - I think they've pushed the guest numbers too far this year. It's all very well that the site can expand at the edges and entry times staggered (Tue etc), but sooner or later all paths lead to the Meeting Point / Marketplace. I saw the number 177,500 bandied around for capacity, is this right, does it include staff, and how has this changed from last year, as 2009 felt a fair bit busier than 2008, and 2010 easily tops 2009. I know there are lots of factors involved - the weather, bigger names on main stages tends to pull the crowds to the centre, and me just becoming more of a grumpy old man with each year passing, but I still think they need to cap or ideally reduce slightly the number of tickets sold, or even consider spreading the festival over a longer period and selling tickets for parts of it. Thoughts?

[jontosh]

I don't think it felt any busier than other years I've been (2003, 2005, 2007). Obviously the site is larger but I felt that in most places it was ok (toilets, market, campsites) and stages.

I think the pyramid stage area could do with being given a bit more space, but that was probably due to the selfish idiots taking up loads of space with their blankets, chairs and umbrellas.

[Phil-itfc]

the only place I noticed any over crowding was the pyramid during Gorillaz and Stevie. I think the pyramid field needs to be mad bigger or at last try keep the pathas either side of it free.

[LondonTom]

I only ever found it to crowded at the pyramid, was crazy! The rest of the place, I live in london so used to having to walk behind thousands of slow people

[Sam Crawley]

Ah well maybe it's just me being a grump then!

[fowls]

the only place I noticed any over crowding was the pyramid during Gorillaz and Stevie. I think the pyramid field needs to be mad bigger or at last try keep the pathas either side of it free.

[where be that blackbird]

didnt think the outside stages were too bad, but thought john peel and some of the dance tents got a bit tricky and overcrowded at times with just as many people outside as in.

(and please give beardyman a bigger stage! thats two years in a row people have tried to see him on thursday and its been rammed.)

[meatyparson]

Ah well maybe it's just me being a grump then!

[pie_and_a_pint]

I don't think it felt too crowded generally. Although I think it's a testament to the quality of the lineup and the quality of some of the bands around at the moment that it was sometimes very difficult to get inside some of the tents (esp. John Peel and Acoustic) to see some very popular acts.

[Sabcully]

This is spookey. I thought exactly the same. I think there were too many people there and did consider whether it was just me being too grumpy. I do think it felt a lot more crowded though. Walking around was more difficult and trying to get to the Pyramid from Mumford and Sons was impossible. We walked all the way back to John Peel and back through the Dance Village to get to the East side of Pyramid. I think 30k less would have done nicely.

[Bristol Boy]

me & you both then mate ! I thought there was wayyyy too many people on site this year, 20K less would be perfect in my opinion (put ticket price up to counter the difference ?)

[meatyparson]

I think the JP tent and others were busier than normal due to the heat, I spent most of saturday & sunday in there refusing to venture out unless it was for a pee or a drink, then scuttled back into my safe shaded hidey hole. It was only a bit later in the day when the sun had relented that the JP seemed to get back to normalish numbers.

[Sam Crawley]

I think the JP tent and others were busier than normal due to the heat

[5co77ie]

Just got back and what a fantastic festival! One observation though - I think they've pushed the guest numbers too far this year. It's all very well that the site can expand at the edges and entry times staggered (Tue etc), but sooner or later all paths lead to the Meeting Point / Marketplace. I saw the number 177,500 bandied around for capacity, is this right, does it include staff, and how has this changed from last year, as 2009 felt a fair bit busier than 2008, and 2010 easily tops 2009. I know there are lots of factors involved - the weather, bigger names on main stages tends to pull the crowds to the centre, and me just becoming more of a grumpy old man with each year passing, but I still think they need to cap or ideally reduce slightly the number of tickets sold, or even consider spreading the festival over a longer period and selling tickets for parts of it. Thoughts?

[Mardy]

didn't seem that busy to me, but then I didn't really venture to any of the bigger stages much

less queues in bars and for toilets, plus working phones mean I was pretty content with the size.

[kaanypooch]

me & you both then mate ! I thought there was wayyyy too many people on site this year, 20K less would be perfect in my opinion (put ticket price up to counter the difference ?)

[Sam Crawley]

numbers are the same this year as last year.

[st00ka]

(and please give beardyman a bigger stage! thats two years in a row people have tried to see him on thursday and its been rammed.)

[lord stradmor]

me & you both then mate ! I thought there was wayyyy too many people on site this year, 20K less would be perfect in my opinion (put ticket price up to counter the difference ?)

[Late]

Perception is strange, i felt it seemed a lot quieter this year compared to the last few. I hardly had to queue for anything and the only place i found congestion was in Shangrila on sat night.

[TokiDoki]

It felt too busy to me (and in previous years too). The late night areas were improved from last year but still too rammed after the bands have finished. I'd probably be happy if they reduced numbers and increased the price to avoid making a loss.

[st00ka]

It didn't seem that crowded to me. There were times when it was busy around certain stages but you could still wander off and find quiet areas to chill out in.

[alemart]

Perception is strange, i felt it seemed a lot quieter this year compared to the last few. I hardly had to queue for anything and the only place i found congestion was in Shangrila on sat night.

[robith]

Stevie apart, which was crazy and I sacked off to go to Orbital instead, I found it absolutely fine.

I'd say it was busier earlier as the heat didn't give you much of a choice about sleeping in - we were up at 8am every day. Also JP stage became a bit of a nightmare with people only interested in being out of the sun.

[18Alex18]

I think the pyramid stage area could do with being given a bit more space, but that was probably due to the selfish idiots taking up loads of space with their blankets, chairs and umbrellas.