Wacken has sold out yet again…

The following weblog was originally posted on DieselDragon’s Website, and has been restored from backup. My apologies for any bad formatting, code errors or broken links that may exist as a result of conversion to this weblog. 🙂

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…And I’m not just referring to the tickets! 😮

As most of ye are no doubt aware, I recently returned from Wacken Open Air in Germany – A festival that I’ve been attending for the last five years running. However, it’s starting to look like 2008CE will be my last Wacken of that “run”…And possibly even my last Wacken, period! :-O 😦

Now everyone knows that the time after all but the smallest of festivals is a time when those in attendance have practically stuff-all cash available – Aside from the amount often spent drinking and making merry at the festival itself, we all have the natural habit of spending loads on souvenirs to take home to remind us of the times that we had there.
Yet for reasons unknown – But obviously fuelled by greed – The Wacken organisers decided in their infinite wisdom to place the Wacken X-Mass Paket 2009CE (A better value Wacken package that is supposed to be for the long-term, more dedicated fans of Wacken who have been going for several years) on sale the Monday immediateley following the festival, and by all reports the X-Mass 2009CE package (10,000 available) sold out on exactly the same day – And I’d place money on the table that up to 85% of those tickets went to people whose sole intention is to sell them on eBay for a ludicrous profit. >:-(

Now I’m one of the longer-standing attendees at Wacken, in a manner of speaking (I’ve attended every year since 2004CE) and on the day that X-Mass Paket tickets went on sale, I was still in Hamburg recovering from the festival itself and was in no fit state – Financially or otherwise – To purchase my ticket for next year. Indeed, my original intention was to purchase mine around end of August or the beginning of September…And going on previous years sales (Including last year, when it was well-known that Iron Maiden would be headlining when the tickets went on sale) I’d say that my expectation of buying a ticket around that time was more than reasonable.
Yet – Given that Wacken is blatantly showing favour to eBay touts and the more financially affluent – The tickets have sold out faster than Glastonbury normally does (Even though no bands have been confirmed for next year yet!) and I’m thinking that I might not bother giving Wacken my custom in subsequent and future years. If they cannot have the decency to implement a system to ensure that dedicated, longer-standing fans of the festival are given priority in the allocation of tickets that are originally intended for them, then as far as I’m concerned the festival has turned into nothing more than a cash-cow, and no longer gives a f*** about it’s original roots and reasons for existance. >:-(

I shall be monitoring Wacken and their decisions regarding ticketing very carefully…And though I have not made a firm decision yet (Although I have several valid reasons for branding the festival as sell-out as Download) I may well try and lead a boycott against the festival if they decide to keep putting their profits before the original, dedicated MetalHeads that made the festival what it is in the first place. >:-(

I’m interested in other peoples opinions on Wacken as well…Is the festival truly going as sell-out as I think it is, or am I just getting on my high-horse once again?

Farewell, and stay true to the cause of Metal…And don’t ever ignore what Wacken are obviously doing! >:-)