Splendour in the Grass organisers have issued another grovelling apology after angry patrons were forced to wait up to six hours in cold weather and mud for a lift home.
An initial statement was poorly received after it was posted online Sunday and blamed bus shortages on the lengthy delays, which it claimed only affected 1000 attendees.
Fed up festival-goers were left fuming at the attempt to play down the seriousness of the problem, many accusing organisers of putting the health and safety of patrons at risk.
In a second statement shared a few hours later, organisers said they were “so sorry” about the dire experience had by attendees desperate to get home at the end of the night.
“We know last night’s journey home was sh***y for some of you. It usually takes some time to get everyone out of the venue, we’re so sorry you had that experience at Splendour,” it said.
“While it doesn’t excuse the delay, the fact is some of [the] buses we ordered didn’t show up and that had a significant impact.
“We’ve been on the phones all day to pull in as many additional transport options as we can. There will likely be wait times again tonight, but we will have extra measures in place to support you including toilets and water.
“We are doing our best to get you all home safe and as quickly as possible.”
There was little sympathy for the organisers, with attendees – some spending up to $650 on festival tickets – accusing them of making excuses.
“Too little too late, you’ve put countless patrons in harms way already. Crocodile tears and the literal bare minimum of amenities can’t fix this one,” one respondent said.
Others agreed the apology came far too late, and its warning about ongoing transport trouble was not an inadequate solution.
“Warning us doesn’t justify the unsafe chaos. You can’t hold an event where people can’t get home,” one wrote.
Many argued the promise of water and toilets at the bus line was “bare minimum” and should not be considered “extra measures”.
“I’m sorry, but water and toilets are not ‘extra measures’. Just utterly disgraceful. This should’ve been cancelled so we can at least claim insurance for our expenses if you money hungry grubs won’t give refunds. Despicable behaviour,” someone said.
One ticketholder claimed they missed a whole day after waiting in line for six hours on Saturday evening to get home.
“We waited for six hours last night. We deserve a refund. I did not go today because I do not trust your organisation,” they wrote.
Hundreds have implored the festival to issue refunds to attendees who prepaid for bus tickets, and those stranded in flooded tents in the camping area with no car as backup.
“Imagine thinking toilets and waters making up for NOT having them/basic human needs last night is okay. The bare minimum. Do better. Give people back their money,” one wrote.
“This was beyond f***ed. Don’t run the event if you can’t deliver it properly, and ensure people are safe. Also please pave the whole grounds next time if you insist on running it the same time every year,” another said.
Many called on organisers to co-ordinate a way for patrons to be picked up by family or friends, with the only way they can currently leave being by an organised bus.
Splendour’s problems have not just been limited to queues for transport home.
The festival was forced to cancel all headline acts on Friday after relentless rain turned the site into a flooded marsh.
Rideshare prices skyrocketed as the festival closed its campgrounds and moved some revellers to nearby campsites.
Uber costs for drop-offs to the festival soared as high as $250 on Friday night, – with some popular camping areas around Byron Bay and Mullumbimby experiencing a shortage of Uber rides on Saturday.
The high demand has meant many festivalgoers who forked out savings for tickets, supplies, accommodation and other festival fees have taken to social media in an attempt to split the cost of travel.
Thousands of festivalgoers were forced to retreat to Byron Bay after main stage acts, including headliners Gorillaz as well as the Avalanches and Kacey Musgraves, were cancelled as hectic weather turned the festival site into a flooded swamp.
Originally published as Splendour in the Grass organisers issue second grovelling apology after festival turns to chaos
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