By Mark Pittelkau, Alexander Friedrich and Robert Gongoll
Heavy cloudburst again +++ 130,000 visitors expected in Munich ++ Powerbanks and umbrellas banned ++ Hotel prices are skyrocketing
Mega concert! In a mega storm?
Although the German weather service warns of heavy rain and thunderstorms in Munich, the Fischer fans are not letting their anticipation go away. 130,000 are expected today at the exhibition center in the Bavarian capital – more than ever before at a concert by Helene Fischer (38).
BILD reports on site from the gig of the year. That threatens to drown beforehand, in the truest sense of the word. Even the rehearsals had to be interrupted in advance. On Saturday afternoon there was heavy rain again.
At 5.30 p.m. the decision was made: 130,000 fans on site had to be evacuated to the halls!
The concert is about to be cancelled!
Tens of thousands of fans housed in exhibition halls
The situation on Saturday in Munich: continuous rain. At around 2 p.m. the sky finally cleared up.
Heavy rain again around 5 p.m. heavy rain! The emergency plan previously developed by the city of Munich is therefore effective: tens of thousands of spectators are accommodated in exhibition halls.
BILD reporter Mark Pittelkau is on site. He describes the situation as follows: “Between 30,000 and 40,000 fans have already been brought into the halls and are sitting here on heaters to warm up. Many also dry their clothes on the radiators. The spectators are frustrated because some of them have traveled from far away.”
That’s what the weather expert says
climatologist dr. Karsten Brandt from Donnerwetter.de to BILD: “It can always rain until shortly before the concert. The radar still shows some shower clouds. Only after 8 p.m., i.e. with the beginning of the concert, do the showers stop and it becomes dry. The risk of rain drops from 100% to 20%. Everything will be fine, just be patient. This time it’s the last minute that brings the improvement.”
Fan rush in rain capes
The fans were not deterred by the weather forecast on the day of the concert. The gates have been open since noon.
Despite the uncertain weather situation, the friends Heike, Doris and Heike arrived from their home town of Bamberg the day before the concert.
Heike to BILD: “We share a hotel room. That costs 300 euros per night. Hotel prices across the city are very high right now because of the concert. You can’t find cheap accommodation anywhere. But Helene is worth it to us.”
Christopher and his girlfriend Susen from Saxony-Anhalt also arrived a day earlier.
Susen to BILD: “Of course it’s a pity that the weather isn’t playing along. But when Helene enters the stage tonight, the sun will come out too! It’s been like that at every one of their concerts that we’ve seen.”
Admission to the exhibition center in the eastern district of Riem has been in full swing since 12 noon. Thousands of people gather at the security gates in the afternoon. Most in rain capes, because it could get wet again in the evening.
If you’re already in, you have to be patient – up to eight hours before the concert starts! 4 p.m. then ticket holders are also allowed into the actual concert area. Fans who lined up early will have to continue waiting there for the day.
According to the organizer, power banks are not allowed at all! Likewise backpacks and selfie sticks. Many mobile phone batteries are likely to be empty before the show even begins. Anyone who absolutely wants to film their Helene experience is in danger of going empty-handed and should therefore spend the waiting time as analogue as possible.
For example with a lighter. This is the most popular item in the fan shop. As BILD learns on site, the lighters are already completely sold out by 2 p.m. Possibly because many visitors will later run out of cell phone juice. And waving lights is part of a concert.
The merchandising stand with Fischer fan articles also offers Helene Tour hoodies (75 euros), a bracelet set of 2 (10 euros) and a friendship bracelet set (10 euros).
Silver to Diamond: These are the best Helene places
The spectator areas on the more than 300 square meter site are divided into silver, gold and diamond. The best area is Diamond, right in front of the stage.
Tina (26), Jessi (29), Mona (34) from Munich had silver tickets for 97 euros, but sold them at the train station to buy gold tickets from a private seller.
Tina to BILD: “We put a few euros on it, but we are now a lot further ahead and can see Helene better.” Already at 2 p.m., the friends with other fans were waiting for admission to the gold area, but only that opens at 4 p.m.
How are you holding up during this time?
Mona: “We drink our favorite cocktail swimming pool, there is a cocktail bar nearby. Two of us stand in line, one of us gets the drinks.” They do the same thing when one of them needs to go to the bathroom.
Ute (53), Michelle (23) and Jana (27) from Thuringia bought Helene Tour t-shirts at the merchandising stand for 40 euros each. Also a set of four plastic cups for 20 euros.
Ute to BILD: “We also have silver tickets, but only go to the area shortly before the concert because we also have my mother with us, who is not quite as fit as we are and cannot stand for as long. But she is also a big fan of Helene! “
But no storm? That’s why Helene fans can hope
That leaves the question of the weather… will it stay dry?
climatologist dr. Karsten Brandt from Donnerwetter.de to BILD: “In the evening the clouds loosen up, during the concert it is dry and slightly cloudy. The chance of rain after 8 p.m. drops to 20 percent, so lucky for the visitors. In the afternoon, however, you should still have an umbrella ready when there is a 50 percent risk of thunderstorms.”
entertainment
On Saturday afternoon, the Johanniter Munich posted on Twitter: “In Riem it’s staying dry for now. However, shorter showers later cannot be ruled out.”
Incidentally, an entry ban also applies to umbrellas. Despite the storm warning. Organizer Leutgeb therefore asks visitors to bring “waterproof clothing or rain ponchos”.