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the only problems with traffic was on wednesday night/thursday morning, right? from what i was told, it was the mud. people were coming in and getting stuck in the mud and they had to fix it.
i drove in on thursday night and had NO wait at all. drove straight to the ticket booth. left out on friday about 11:00am to meet friends and lead them to our camp. the wait was less than 15 minutes.
Post by hibouxdufromage on Jun 25, 2010 23:55:51 GMT -5
There isn't a whole lot to be done about the mud. You either get stuck or you don't. Not a good reason to slow everything down. This isn't bonnaroo's fault, but letting National Guard folks operate heavy machinery, light machinery, cotton gins, abaci, pencils and paper, etc.... is never a fantastic idea. They were in a convoy heading toward Nashville and wrecked into each other, which made the THP stop what they were doing (getting people into Bonnaroo) and stand around doing nothing with the NG who were standing around doing nothing. Basically, it's a crapshoot. Some years they're organized and some years they're idiots. You never really know until you get there.
We left the Montverde hotel at 530am got in line by 6am at mm 125 and got to exit 112 at 1pm
13 miles = 7 hours
We were listening to radio bonnaroo a lot of the time and we heard that there was a serious mud problem and that centeroo was not opening on schedule. This was confirmed by the gate/wristband girls
It really would be great if the Radio Bonnaroo folks were more involved. I listened for about an hour while waiting in line for any information or direction before putting on some Mitch Hedberg to keep me awake. This could be a great resource for the festival that seems to go largely unutilized.
It really would be great if the Radio Bonnaroo folks were more involved. I listened for about an hour while waiting in line for any information or direction before putting on some Mitch Hedberg to keep me awake. This could be a great resource for the festival that seems to go largely unutilized.
Yeah i thought maybe that was the purpose of it but while we sat on the highway, it gave us absolutely no information. I'm not sure why they wouldn't use such an obvious resource for communicating with everyone.....
It really would be great if the Radio Bonnaroo folks were more involved. I listened for about an hour while waiting in line for any information or direction before putting on some Mitch Hedberg to keep me awake. This could be a great resource for the festival that seems to go largely unutilized.
I did hear occasional updates from the Highway patrol on Radio Bonnaroo. They really weren't helpful.
Post by plasticpepper on Jun 26, 2010 16:22:46 GMT -5
I really don't know what happened with the traffic situation this year, but from what I've heard it got ridiculously screwed up. I definitely heard about other people with similarly horrible waits in line to get in, and that's just not right.
A four hour wait I have no issue with...that's how long I waited in 07 (my first year) and so I tend to think of that as just part of Bonnaroo. It may not be a fun part, but it's just one of the things you deal with - just like you deal with getting rained on, getting muddy, never being fully clean, and portapotties. If I get in with only an hour or two wait, great, it's an added bonus. If it's four hours, okay, I'm prepared for that. If it's six, well, that sucks to get unlucky like that, but I'll deal. But 10, 11, 12 hours? That's ridiculous and there's no reason people should have to wait that long.
For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure this is the first year I've heard of people having waits like that. Something got screwed up this year...possibly several things, but for whatever reason the traffic situation was a mess. It's not like that every year, and I would think having it be so bad this year would sort of make them finally realize that they need to improve it somehow. So if anything, I would think future years would be BETTER than past years, and certainly better than this year.
That said...it certainly sucks that you had such a horrible experience getting in, but I hate to hear that you're going to give up on Roo altogether because of it. I can totally understand that going through that just trying to give in makes a really bad first impression of the fest and that it can kinda color your entire experience. But if the rest of your Bonnaroo experience was enjoyable, don't let the traffic situation stand in your way if you want to come back. I HIGHLY doubt you would have such a bad experience traffic-wise a second time, and if you want a guarantee that it'll be better there's always VIP like others suggested.
Post by hibouxdufromage on Jun 26, 2010 18:25:38 GMT -5
Some of us went in 02 and didn't give up, after having to wait 16h in traffic. I, for one, am very glad I didn't say quack bonnaroo after that. 'Roo isn't the place for bratty bitches. You gotta be made of tougher stuff than marshmallows and glitter to have a good time. If you are, you'll have the time of your life. If you aren't, good luck doing what you do enjoy!
^It is the same as it was getting into Phish festivals in the mid 90's, Woodstock 94, and any other camping event with more than 50k I have ever been to. What do you think they could do to make it better, considering what they own is the land towards centeroo past Bushy Branch. I actually am not being snarky I just do not see what else they could do given the logistics of the site.
Post by nodepression on Jun 26, 2010 18:56:13 GMT -5
Nah I know you're not being snarky don't worry about it.
If there was really only 1 entrance on site it's messed up. They could add a couple more so they can let in three times as many cars at once. But I'm probably over simplifying this. It's just a matter of allowing 3 or 4 entrances instead of 1 big entrance that lets in 10 or so cars at a time.
The fests you mentioned though, they didn't have those every year like Bonnaroo. The phish phests had a long run, but they switched venues every year.
^They have three I do not know where they would put a fourth. If you ever get a chance to see the area at non Bonnaroo times the logistics, and the problems with them become a little more obvious.
I've been toying with the idea of trying to convince Capps or some other senior members of the team that it is in theirs and the festival's best interest if they attend the next festival as "Patrons." Attempt to arriving at 8 AM on Thursday, camp in GA, use the facilities we use, view the shows from the grounds instead of back or side stage.
I really think that there is a lot that could be learned from the experience in ways that they can improve the experience and in connecting with their market better. It would also be a huge statement to the attendees that they are committed to the experience.
Of course, the obvious rebuttal from their standpoint is that they need to be there to run the show but I'm not sure that it is truly neccessary. They have to have people responsible for administering everything. They may want to be consulted about everything but that can be done via cell or, if they must, construct a (non-air conditioned) command post inside Centeroo where they can meet up with folks and be briefed and such.
^^^^ When I think Bonnaroo developers, money is then only thing I picture. If the people are there and the money comes in and you can get updates while sitting in an AC room, why put yourself through our pain? In a perfect world your pipe dream might come true. And I can say and will, I would trade seats with them if they ever wanted to see Roo from our view point, Love you peeps, but I would be like see ya suckers ;D
Last year we were made to take exit 127 and ended up waiting in line from about 10:30 AM (Thursday) until we got to the toll booth at around 6:00 PM. I swore we'd never do that again.........so naturally this year we were made to get off at exit 127 again (this time it was about 7:30 AM) we drove about a quarter of a mile and all the cars were doing u-turns and getting in a line that would take us back to I-24. This seemed a little odd but being a good little sheep I followed the crowd. We talked about pulling another u-turn but after waiting over 7 hours the year before were a little reluctant to repeat that experience. Anyway, about 2 minutes later a couple of Tennessee's finest troopers came flying up and turned everybody back around, away from I-24. Took us about an hour and half to get to the toll booths and by 10:00 we were setting up our tent right behind the water trailer for the showers in pod 9.. I guess some one had the same experience as we had the year before, pulled a u-turn and everyone else followed. Gave us something to talk about anyway for the rest of the ride.
How do VIPs not have to wait in the traffic? Special entrance, pass?
It might be worth it.
Special entrance it takes about an hour to 90 minutes to get in.
I went in about 8:00 on Thursday for VIP and waited about 30 minutes. It almost sounds like getting eight hours of my life back was worth the cost alone, not to mention the other goodies.
Say hey johnny boy, the battle call United we stand, divided we fall Together we are what we can't be alone We came to this country you made it our home
Post by tarheels90 on Jun 28, 2010 13:32:36 GMT -5
we got to Roo around 7am on thursday, and we came in the back way, on 55 i think it was, and we got sent right in, took us just over an hour from when we got in line, to when we parked. we were able to see the line on the interstate, and we were very thankful that we werent caught in that mess, it looked terrible.
of course we got camped in BFE, but it was worth not waiting in traffic.
Some of us went in 02 and didn't give up, after having to wait 16h in traffic. I, for one, am very glad I didn't say quack bonnaroo after that. 'Roo isn't the place for bratty bitches. You gotta be made of tougher stuff than marshmallows and glitter to have a good time. If you are, you'll have the time of your life. If you aren't, good luck doing what you do enjoy!
It's not about being a brattybitch. It's about driving 13 hours, a lot of times more for others, and then to get there - not be able to get help from local police officers because they don't want to help with directions, and then forced to wait in line for 10 hours.
Post by captmonkey on Jun 28, 2010 16:04:12 GMT -5
My cousin, who lives in Manchester, said they got a ton of rain the night before so that had slowed everything down. Also, as I was listening to Bonnaroo radio once I got closer, they said something similiar, that they were sorry for the wait, but they had to put a bunch of stuff down over the mud and they were getting people in as fast as possible.
Still, I think it's pretty random and just depends on when you get there, where you come from, and which entrance you go to. I waited several hours last year and this year I got in line at 1pm on Thursday and was parking my truck on-site just before 2pm.
We waited in line at VIP for about 10 minutes. Our friends waited 12 hours in GA. THAT right there is worth money to me. If my life is worth $50/hour, that's a $600 difference.
Still, I think it's pretty random and just depends on when you get there, where you come from, and which entrance you go to. I waited several hours last year and this year I got in line at 1pm on Thursday and was parking my truck on-site just before 2pm.
See, this is what I don't get, we were in line 45 mins - 1 hour before you and it took 11 hours, for you 1 hour?!?!
Still, I think it's pretty random and just depends on when you get there, where you come from, and which entrance you go to. I waited several hours last year and this year I got in line at 1pm on Thursday and was parking my truck on-site just before 2pm.
See, this is what I don't get, we were in line 45 mins - 1 hour before you and it took 11 hours, for you 1 hour?!?!
WTH
I didn't take any detours, I have a flying car.
So, just keep going the way the cops point you to...