I was just reading the introductions thread and it occured to me how even though we're all posting pictures and whatnot, there's obviously a huge majority of Fest-goers that dont read, or at least dont post on this forum.. And the sheer volume of people milling around last year at all the venues, hotels, bars and otherwise made me wonder how many tickets actually get sold for this thing. Is there a finite limit, and if so, has the Fest ever sold out/been close to selling out?

I need answers!

For some reason I have the idea it's around 3 or 4000, but I have no idea why.

Edit: and there is a limit, isn't there? I'm pretty sure it sold out last year.

I believe 2000 is the combined capacity of the venues. But...then you take into account the number of bands and their crews (200 x 5 avg.) adds another 1000 people.
It's the most amazing feeling in the world to be walking the streets of Gainesville and there's nothing but people just like you for as far as the eye can see and everywhere you go all weekend.

Fest feels like home.

And yes, it sells out. So don't screw around and wait to get your Fest pass in the last minute. Or you'll be crying.

And don't you guys make me go to Park Ave C.D.s last minute this year after they cut off the on-line sales. Although I have to admit, I met some awesome folks...Niki and that Boston crew was pretty rad.

yeah, I think the pre-sales is set at 2000, and I always estimate band members at 1000. there's gotta be at last a couple hundred more between staff/volunteers, walk-up ticket buyers, and random folks wandering about, but I think the amoutn of festers is more than 3000, less than 4000.

i definitely remember it selling out last year, and then the threads on this board for people trying to buy tickets from other people, and trying to get people in Gville to buy tickets from wayward for them.

don't screw around for sure, it will sell out.

word I had to spot someone the money last year they got their ticket on the last possible day

I booked and paid for my tickets/shirt/skate deck(!) pretty much as soon as they went on sale last year. I then dropped another $700 on a flight and a few hundred more on accomodation/airport transfers etc. Got to registration early on the Friday to be told there was no record of my booking! You should have seen the look on my mates face...he'd clearly had no confidence in my ability to book tickets (he worries about that kind of thing for some reason) and immediately assumed it was a fuck up on my part and was ready to kill me! I knew it was well sold out and have to admit I was about to start shitting bricks but then I heard one of the very nice No Idea chaps say' they've come all this way, there's no way they're not getting in' or words to that effect. So after my near heart attack/murder by friend we got our passes and everything else so all was good. If that had been in England we would have been kicked out the door...that's why I've given up on UK festivals in favour of the US every year! Anyway, my point is it does sell out and it's not a nice feeling to get there and think you may not get into the shows so don't fuck about...if you're going then buy your ticket asap and worry about details later.

I checked my credit card statement when I got home...I was charged but either way it was nice of whoever it was to give us the benefit of the doubt...thanks if you're reading!

It was me. haha

Yeah, i bought mine the second they went on sale last year.. it's kinda funny though that with all the flight costs and so on, the actual Fest ticket price is hilariously cheap, especially considering you're getting about 2-3 years worth of great bands crammed into the space of a weekend.

Totally. $50 is ridiculously good value.

I would not be surprised if a pass is a little more expensive this year. In fact, conisdering gas prices, they probably really should raise teh rpice. I won't like it, but I can't hold it against them.

hell, with the way the exchange rate has gone this past year, they could probably raise it to like $80, and for the UK crowd the pass would still be cheaper than it was last year.

I think the exchange rate has settled a little and it's more or less the same as it was last year. There was one point when it was up to like 2.05 or something crazy like that though. And yeah, I don't know what Fest finances look like, but I wouldn't begrudge a few extra $ at all.

i'm pretty sure it has consistently gone up $10 each year
they could charge $100 it will still be an insanely good deal (although I hope they never have to charge that much)