The summer of 2023 has seen its fair share of music festivals, but one event that has made headlines for all the wrong reasons is Electric Zoo New York.
Promising to be a weekend of electrifying music and unforgettable memories, this EDM festival turned into a chaotic nightmare for festival-goers.
In this blog post, we’ll explore what happened during the last weekend at Electric Zoo New York, as it faced logistical and organizational challenges that left attendees and artists fuming.
Electric Zoo New York Dy One: Cancelled
The odyssey of Electric Zoo New York 2023 began on a shaky note. Just hours before the festival was set to open its doors, organizers announced that the first day of the event would be canceled due to difficulties in logistics and the construction of the main stage.
This abrupt decision left ticket holders disappointed and frustrated. While logistical issues are not uncommon in large-scale events, what raised eyebrows was the timing of the announcement. Reddit insiders claimed that the organizers had known about these issues long before the final deadline and yet chose to inform attendees at the last moment.
To add salt to the wound, Electric Zoo announced a refund for Friday’s cancellation, but this refund did not include fees, which in some cases were over $50.
It’s important to note that the blame did not fall on the stagehands or production crews who had been working tirelessly but on the inadequate construction time and various delays that made it impossible to meet the opening deadline.
Day Two: Ticketing Troubles
After canceling the first day, Electric Zoo New York announced that the festival was back on for the remaining days.
However, this was just the beginning of the ordeal for festival-goers.
When it came time to pick up tickets, attendees were met with hours-long lines that stretched for what seemed like an eternity.
The minimum wait time in line was a staggering three hours, just to get the ticket that many had already purchased.
This negligence not only frustrated attendees but also put them in danger as the crowd grew larger and more agitated with each passing hour.
If you’re en route to @ElectricZooNY or already in line to pick up tickets, brace yourself for a current wait time of over 3+ hours for will call tickets.
This is not an exaggeration. pic.twitter.com/4Od8F80TbF
— Festive Owl (@TheFestiveOwl) September 2, 2023
Electric Zoo New York Finale: full capacity and security gates collapsing
As if the ticketing debacle wasn’t enough, Electric Zoo New York reached its peak of chaos on the final night.
The festival declared that it had reached full capacity, even for those who already held valid tickets. This decision led to a mass of people rushing to the security gates after being told they could no longer gain entry.
The situation quickly spiraled out of control, with hundreds, if not thousands, of attendees attempting to force their way in. This dangerous stampede could have resulted in serious injuries or worse.
Gates down, chaos reigns on the final night of @ElectricZooNY 2023 — after valid ticket holders were told no more entry would occur after an announcement that capacity had been reached.
📷: r/electriczoo pic.twitter.com/XdXGjnxOvg
— Festive Owl (@TheFestiveOwl) September 4, 2023
Artists Backlash
The disarray at Electric Zoo New York didn’t go unnoticed by the performers either.
3LAU, a prominent DJ, publicly announced that “I commit that I will not play ezoo [Electric Zoo] again, ever, if people are not taken care of“. Many other artists and DJs expressed their disappointment and frustration with the festival’s mismanagement on social media, tarnishing the event’s reputation even further.
Electric Zoo New York 2023’s organizational woes, including last-minute cancellations, ticketing troubles, and capacity issues, have raised questions about the festival’s ability to deliver on its promises.
The backlash from both attendees and artists has left a stain on the festival’s reputation.
While it may not be fair to equate Electric Zoo with the infamous Fyre Festival just yet, it is clear that the festival has a long way to go in rebuilding trust and ensuring the safety and satisfaction of its attendees in the future
