The annual June guantlet of Riverbend and Bonnaroo has ended and, as always, some folks have questions about how they both did and what their futures might hold.
While the crowd estimates for Bonnaroo were nowhere near the 80,000 that officials announced years ago as the sell-out number, this year nearly 55,000 people supposedly attended, which is still a very large festival. They seem to have mastered the craft of adjusting The Farm in Manchester to feel full and vibrant.
Barry CourterThere is nothing worse than a music venue that feels empty, except maybe one that is dangerously overcrowded. Also, it was not the best lineup, but it was still a good time.
By all accounts, the crowds at Riverbend were also down from years past. Let’s officially say that Riverbend never drew 100,000, or even 80k or 60k. Those numbers were way inflated from the start and more or less passed down over the years.
Nonetheless, more than a few folks have noticed what I’ve been saying for years, which is that the festival is simply running out of space. Not only is that area seeing a building boom with new apartments and townhomes, the trees along the 21st Century Waterfront are maturing, meaning sightlines are getting smaller. It’s good for the city, but not good for Riverbend.