Finally, it has gone well. And this despite what some predicted due to the number of elements that played against it, among others the fact that its main venue is located 40 kilometers from the center of Madrid. The first edition of Primavera Sound Madrid has ended up registering figures that its organizers describe as “satisfactory”. 90,000 people have managed to gather the festival of Barcelona origin in the Rock City of Arganda del Rey for what was their landing in the capital, at a rate of 42,000 spectators on Friday and 48,000 that were expected for this Saturday based on the tickets placed, as they have commented at the festival’s evaluation press conference.
Rumors had been floating in the circles of the sector for weeks that pointed to a puncture and many free tickets to reach the set expectations, which were those of reach about 50,000 daily viewersthe amount that is supposed to allow access despite the fact that they could enter the gigantic enclosure 85,000 people. But those responsible for the Madrid event, who have not wanted to provide the numbers of invitations, have denied that there have been practices that deviate from what is usual in the Barcelona edition.
What they have recognized is the growing trend for day tickets to prevail over the season tickets that cover the entire festival. “If before the normal thing was that 90% were subscriptions and 10% day tickets, currently, both in Barcelona and in this Madrid edition, the percentages are on the way to being reversed,” he commented. joan pons, its director of communication. The rise in prices, both for tickets and for flights and accommodation, would be behind this change in trend.
mobility in question
The challenge of mobility has been the most commented aspect, due to the problems that arose on Friday, due to the traffic jams at the accesses that even forced the start of the concert to be delayed. Depeche Mode 45 minutes. Almudena Heir, director of the festival, has attributed these problems to the parking lot of the enclosure, of which approximately half was disabled due to the rains that have been taking place in recent days. It has also been commented that many people showed up with their car without having reserved a place, as the festival had announced that it was mandatory. “Our bet has always been on collective transport, with shuttles from the Metropolitan Civitas and the service agreed with the taxis”, Heredero insisted.
He bad weather that forced the cancellation of the day on Thursday has been the element that has defined this first Madrid edition of the festival. “Those of us who live in Madrid know that it is something quite unheard of that there are so many rains in a row for so many daysWe even have a meteorologist who works on our team,” commented Heredero. They have provided the figures: between May 23 and 31, 50 liters per square meter fell, and so far in June 30 liters per square meter. An enclosure Like the one in Ciudad del Rock, with a dirt floor that is covered with artificial grass, it is not ideal for withstanding so much water continuously.
Madrid will return in 2024
All these difficulties will be studied and reviewed by the festival organization with a view to the possibility of holding the same event here again next year, something that they have not confirmed at any time. A change of format in Madrid could also be considered. in what There is no doubt that Primavera Sound will continue to have a Madrid edition.
Regarding the attendees, from the organization they talk about 38% foreign public. Compared to Barcelona, in Madrid there is a much stronger presence of the Latin American public. The reason: that Madrid is a direct and more comfortable destination, while to get to Barcelona they have to make a stopover. They have also noticed, at both festivals, a sharp drop in the percentages of British audiences, which they blame on ‘Brexit’ and the general rise in prices. For them, it is no longer a cheap vacation destination like it used to be.
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Since the festival they have valued its musical part very positively, with the presence of flashy stars such as Depeche Mode but also with artists who had never performed in Madrid, like the rapper kendrik lamar, “which it would be impossible to see in any other context than a festival like Primavera Sound”. In total, and despite the cancellation on Thursday, there have been a total of 222 concerts among those held in venues in the city, at the Cívitas Metropolitano and in the City of Rock. One of the policies that the festival has made a mark on, parity, has not stopped exhibiting. “39% of the artists in this edition are women, 50% men and the rest are mixed groups or artists who do not identify with a specific gender”, Joan Pons underlined.
The Saturday day of Primavera Sound Madrid continues today in Arganda with performances by artists such as rosaliathe most awaited, Caroline Polacheck, Calvin Harris either St.Vincent. On Sunday the festival will close with the celebration of its daytime electronic session Brunch in the Park at the Civitas Metropolitano stadium.