Music Gurtenfestival issues too many tickets due to error
The Gurtenfestival issued several thousand more tickets than usual for one day during this year's event. The reason for this was an incorrect entry in the booking system. The authorities approved the higher audience capacity at short notice.
21.12.2024, 11:18
SDA
A spokeswoman for the Gurtenfestival confirmed a corresponding article in the newspapers "Bund" and "Berner Zeitung" on Saturday at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency. In principle, the Gurtenfestival has an upper limit of 25,000 people, divided between 21,500 visitors and 3,500 helpers.
However, for Friday, July 19, which included a performance by Patent Ochsner, 7500 tickets were issued too many. The reason for this was an incorrect entry in the booking system. According to the organizers, 90 percent of the additional tickets issued were free tickets for partner companies that had been mistakenly allocated for Friday instead of Wednesday or Thursday.
Authorities had no security concerns
When the organizers noticed the mistake eleven days before the festival, they applied to the authorities for a permit for a higher capacity. The responsible Bern-Mittelland regional governor's office granted the permit. The municipality of Köniz, in whose area the open air festival takes place, agreed. "Safety was guaranteed", said the mayor of Köniz, Tanja Bauer (SP), when asked by Keystone-SDA.
The organizers also emphasized that security was "naturally guaranteed at all times". The security measures had already been designed for a higher occupancy rate for years. In addition, individual areas were expanded and additional emergency exits were created.
