Will Glastonbury end?

[HGavin]

Doesn't look like I'm going to make it to this years Glastonbury... and I'm wondering if there's a chance it'll end before I can get there. I'm sure it'll continue for several more years, maybe a decade (since it was granted a license to run to 2024)... but who knows, economics/audience tastes... things can change.

Who reckons Glastonbury will keep running several more years/decades, or is there a limited life for this best of festivals?

[CHRLY]

I fucking hope not, hate the place

[Yesiamaduck]

It'll probably die eventually

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Yes it will end. This year it will be sometime on the Monday 30th June. In many many future years the dates will differ. It's here for a while yet so I wouldn't worry about not getting there ever again.

[UEF]

As sugggested in another thread, I think it will at the very least have to change something to survive - length, ticket price, breadth of entertainment available or some combination of these. It still represents good value for money when you're paying the same for a 5 day festival with 100 stages as you do for a 2 day festival with 5 stages. But I wonder how long that can go on for.

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

I could see an end eventually, maybe after Michael Eavis has moved on but I guess the festival would be left in the hands of trusted, like-minded people though.

Rather than a single fallow year I could see an extended break for three or four years and possibly an event every two years?

I don't necessarily see the economy affecting it's success, it's seemed to have done well enough through the recent global recession. I think it will come down to the attitude of the organisers at the helm at that particular time. Let's be honest, due to the amount of charitable contributions made, it's not the most profitable of ventures, and with us lot moaning about the lineup, the headliners, when the lineup's gonna be released, things ain't what they used to be, etc, etc, it must feel like a pretty thankless task at times.

[frostypaw]

I think it may end as we currently know it but not completely. That said without great upheaval in the world I can't see why it would change significantly for a while - they have it running very smoothly with a huge broadcasting and publicity self-funded system around it, much as I'm sure it's still hard work they probably do little more than keep the wheels turning now. It's been going so long it has it's own momentum much like other big public events like Ascot or F1 or Glynebourne

it's a big machine though, i don't mean to dismiss their efforts in that comparison

Edited March 30, 2014 by frostypaw

[Chimps in Balaclavas]

It'll go on for as long as people want to pay for it and for as long as Emily and co want to host it, I'd say it's still the daddy of festivals. Things do put people off though, like the horrendous weather in 07, cost (even though I reckon cost/entertainment wise, compared to gigs, acts etc it still is worth it, plus you get to camp ) but the festival evolves, it's always changing, it's hardly static. People may say it's never as good as it used to be but that may be the case to todays newbies in 20-30 years time (fingers crossed). Everything has its shelf life but I'd like to think that Glasto, 1 of the pioneers of the British festival scene, stands the test of time, while all the other corporate bollocks festivals are long gone.

[TaBoosh]

Glastonbury will never end. Mark my words

[frostypaw]

Thought about this last night - not nightmares - I love hearing newbies still being blown away by it just like i was back when i first went

All else aside as long as it's doing that for people it's still good and will still be making fans strong enough to keep it going

[cammie81]

I don't think that it's likely to end anytime soon.

Whereas other major festivals are struggling to get the numbers previously seen, Glastonbury sold out with no bands announed (assuming Arcade Fire weren't announced in October, can't remember).

I think the the festival will end when the Eavii have had enough.

[cammie81]

Glastonbury will never end. Mark my words

[tommyds]

I think at one point Michael said he wanted to make it to 50 years, but I think that it would just switch to Emily after that. I see it going at least another 50.

[Tr234]

I don't think that it's likely to end anytime soon.

Whereas other major festivals are struggling to get the numbers previously seen, Glastonbury sold out with no bands announed (assuming Arcade Fire weren't announced in October, can't remember).

I think the the festival will end when the Eavii have had enough.

[Guest]

As the weather becomes ever more unpredictable with more severe events, I imagine many outdoor festivals will need to rethink their future

[davefrompompey]

As the weather becomes ever more unpredictable with more severe events, I imagine many outdoor festivals will need to rethink their future

[jeffie]

Or, if Eavis decides to allow louder bands.....

http://youtu.be/EqvYNlUIx8Q

That would certainly cause a few problems with the Council.

[The60ftOctopus]

When the World is scheduled to end shall we all pitch up on Worthy Farm and have a mini Glastonbury?

Crack open a cider, watch the sunset and imminent apocalypse by the stone circle

[mrtourette]

Everything dies, but I wouldn't worry about Glastonbury suddenly stopping in the next few years.

[Pinhead]

Most likely it will end only when it becomes old fashioned or unpopular to go to festivals (the succeeding generations becoming increasingly sedentary and living their life through computer screens). Else a change in legislation may lead to it becoming infeasible, or a change in the economy may lead to it becoming financially non-viable. Years ago during the Foot and Mouth problem, it was the spread of this disease that made it risky to continue with the festival that year (although it went ahead in the end). A human epidemic of some nature could similarly make it too risky to meet in large crowds. Or as has been alluded too above, the climate becomes too wet during the summer and either puts people off or perhaps even the festival area begins to flood regularly until it becomes a loss maker.

[jeffie]

Most likely it will end only when it becomes old fashioned or unpopular to go to festivals (the succeeding generations becoming increasingly sedentary and living their life through computer screens). Else a change in legislation may lead to it becoming infeasible, or a change in the economy may lead to it becoming financially non-viable. Years ago during the Foot and Mouth problem, it was the spread of this disease that made it risky to continue with the festival that year (although it went ahead in the end). A human epidemic of some nature could similarly make it too risky to meet in large crowds. Or as has been alluded too above, the climate becomes too wet during the summer and either puts people off or perhaps even the festival area begins to flood regularly until it becomes a loss maker.

[Pinhead]

Zombie Apocalypse?

[jeffie]

Also known as 5am on Sunday morning at Glasto when the late night venues finally begin to wind down....

[Pinhead]

Where I work right now, no-one would notice another zombie round here...

[budvar]

There's no reason whatsoever to question the long term viability of the festival. That certainly hasn't always been the case, with its future looking very uncertain following the security disaster that was 2000.

Not selling out until the very last minute in 2008 also obviously worried ME too.

I think it's fair to say that we've seen something of a peak in terms of interest in festivals, which has seen the overall number fall in recent years but doesn't seem to have impacted the big boys and Glasto is the biggest of them all.

So long as EE is keen I'm confident that my children and grandchildren will enjoy trips to Worthy Farm.