Camping chairs in the arena megathread

[Noodle]

It seems chairs are a hot topic of debate, so it seems appropriate to enable discussion without them cluttering the arena of other threads. Here's a new arena to plonk your posts on the matter to rest your opinions on.

Poll included in case it's of any interest to concerned parties.

[cheesemason]

Just need to restrict them to towards the back of the arena and mark out corridors that people can't put chairs in so you can get through them easily to get to the standing part.

Not rocket science

[robin8585]

Just need to restrict them to towards the back of the arena and mark out corridors that people can't put chairs in so you can get through them easily to get to the standing part.

Not rocket science

As long as it's actually enforced, I'd go with this over a ban, seems like a sensible compromise.

[Gandalf the Red]

Just need to restrict them to towards the back of the arena and mark out corridors that people can't put chairs in so you can get through them easily to get to the standing part.

Not rocket science

As long as it's actually enforced, I'd go with this over a ban, seems like a sensible compromise.

So would I.

But in recent years there seems to be fewer security people in the arena, walking around and enforcing things such as idiots standing in tent doorways, smoking in tents, etc.

[Jay1993]

Didn't really notice an increase in chairs this year and have never had any problems with them. The only time I encounter them is when I'm moving from the back of the crowd to get a spot in the middle/front for a band and then it's easy enough to weave through them. I've never come across anyone sitting in a chair from the middle of the crowd onwards. I wouldn't suggest banning chairs outright as people may need them. Hell even I'd take my own chair in with me if it didn't mean carrying it round all day, I get knackered from roaming the arena all the day Getting rid of the funfair sounds like a good idea to me, although that's probably because I've never used it. That way the metal market could be moved further back and allow more space for the jager tent/main stage and chairs.

[CharlesDexterWard]

Chairs at the back is fine, just not all over the arena and heading into the busiest main crowd area/ pit

[Tet]

Mark the ground with designated areas, leaving corridors for people to walk between, and enforce the fact that people aren't permitted to have chairs outside of those designated areas.

[Tet]

Okay. Name me one festival that has a capacity above 5000 that lets chairs in.

[...]

Download? No.

Yes they do.

[Tet]

I should add, though, that realistically the chairs are a minor annoyance rather than a real problem. Are they enough of an issue that something needs to be done about them? I'm not so sure (although I'd personally prefer it if it was).

[Gandalf the Red]

It must be lazy Brits then.

[WorMzy]

I dunno if the chairs made getting to the disabled platform more difficult or something. I can understand people getting upset about that, and I agree. But chairs in the arena are not a thing I disagree with on principle.

I'm usually lucky and get a Rock Soc membership before they sell out, so I have chairs I can use in the Rock Soc tent if my back starts aching or I just can't be arsed standing any more. If I didn't have that luxury, I'd bring my chair through from the campsite and the haters can hate for all I care.

I'd much rather people use chairs at the back of the crowd, then sit on the floor in the middle of it. I saw more than a few accidents caused because of those knee-high triphazards, especially when it started getting dark. Fortunately copious amounts of booze seems to reduce the risk of injury in these collisions.

[fluffkitten]

Mark the ground with designated areas, leaving corridors for people to walk between, and enforce the fact that people aren't permitted to have chairs outside of those designated areas.

This is basically how I feel about. The biggest hassle I can see is properly policing it, especially as the festival is still looking to increase the number of people on site.

[houston4044]

I wouldn't consider them a big problem really, on a list of issues with BOA it would be near the bottom; It'll also be hard to enforce it and a waste.

The idea of marking the ground has a big flaw in that it will be hard to see once it starts getting busy or if it's coincides with a good viewing spot.

[Black Wizard]

I wouldn't consider them a big problem really, on a list of issues with BOA it would be near the bottom

Agreed. Focusing on reprofiling the entrance to the site should be a priority.

[Ghost]

What a ridiculous thing to care about. Especially considering someone sitting on the floor with their legs stretched out takes up more space than someone in a chair!