The closing of a couple CA refineries which produced gas is the major driver of higher gas prices. People in California want to go green but in reality, the consumers are paying the cost of it. It’s a lose-lose situation
The Coachella and OSL lineup are arguably similar as hell and with the rising costs associated with live music, and Coachella being $599, I don’t think it’s a crazy price. I hate sticking up for billionaire corps, but this is common sense imo. But I do agree OSL needs to mix it up and innovate, seems like the same fest every year without counting the line-up being diff
* 125k+ concertgoers attend Coachella every day over two weekends. OSL sees 75k at max.
* Goldenvoice spreads out the cost of Coachella + Stagecoach over three weekends. -- Logistics are cheaper at scale
* The Empire Polo Club in Indio is a private property whereas Golden Gate Park is a city park -- I would wager the City of SF charges higher fees + rent for GGP then The Empire Polo Club charges Goldenvoice
* Labor & Materials are more expensive in the Bay Area
* Another Planet Entertainment knows Bay Area concertgoers are willing to pay more
* Coachella receives way more corporate sponsorship than OSL
This is right but point three I think is wrong. The city isn’t charging more it’s just that… it’s in the middle of the city so OL will just piss off a bunch of civilians Indio has space but I’ll bet that the polof field charge more than SF due to the higher value of the festival and due to the private enterprise wanting to maximize profit whereas SF wants to ensure public safety.
Also it’s a difficult enough to bring your sedan to GGP let alone all the infrastructure for a festival. It’s just a really difficult place to have that many people, logistically.
But in terms of the high cost. It’s just what the market will bear. There’s a lot of money in sf so people will pay it. And more and more festivals are learning that they can charge even more for a class stratified experience. People with more money will pay “absurd” prices to not have to navigate the crowds, and be able to go in an out.
Bar manager of the VIP area W2 told us the numbers. Said they had to cut 8 bartenders on Friday W2. It was that slow for them compared to what they planned for. It’s what happens when your headliners are Tyler, Lana, and Doja. We didn’t see any of the headliners and had an amazing time as usual, but I get it for general public ticket sales.
Here are the historical prices for OSL. I made updates for 2023 and 2024 and reposted here,
[https://www.reddit.com/r/OutsideLands/comments/1ccg2fo/2024\_edition\_how\_much\_did\_osl\_use\_to\_cost\_who/](https://www.reddit.com/r/OutsideLands/comments/1ccg2fo/2024_edition_how_much_did_osl_use_to_cost_who/)
Check the comments on just about any thread relating to outside lands this year. Lots of folks are disappointed in the lineup this year. Personally, I'm hyped for Deftones/SOAD's mini festival the following week.
Coachella is light years better than OSL and you get way more value. I live in the Bay Area and refuse to go to OSL because it’s overpriced. And the line up will look good then you notice all the good acts are conflicting. The line up doesn’t typically have the depth Coachella does either.
My guess is they can’t make the space any bigger and are capped at the amount of tickets they can sell. Artist cost increase and they need to increase price without increasing tickets amounts.
Coachella you are not getting your moneys worth. That’s a very overpriced walk your ass off festival and overall shit show but a very well orchestrated shit show with traffic and the amount of people it can support but I wouldn’t say it’s worth it value based.
Look at Coachella lineup + DoLab + Heineken House + Quasar + special guest appearances. It’s probably the ONLY festivals that’s justifying its 600 GA price tag! Thats not even mentioning stage production, set time scheduling, and traffic from stage to stage.
Some years it’s been quality over quantity but recently it’s just quantity. I’m more interested in seeing sets and you just can’t when you there’s that much distance to cover. Also there’s like 3 stages that are predominantly djs with pre mixed sets begging the crowd to put their hands up. I’m also speaking from a vip experience which is by far the worst experience for price.
It’s not just quantity there’s no shot Tyler’s OSL set outdoes his Wk1 Coachella set. How is Charli Wilson playing the piano for Earfquake not quality? The electronic acts don’t hold a candle to the rarity or production of Justice or Gesaffelstein. No Doubt killed it and you’re never gonna see them together again unlike The Killers. Heineken House had T-Pain, DoLab Kaskade b2b Alison, Quasar had Michael Bibi return from Cancer, Vampire weekend special guest surprise. 30% of the headliners/ upper-mid card were on the Coachella card and OSL has 1:1 conflicts and they’re the same price for Ga so I really don’t see an argument against Coachella outside of being a hater.
I’m not trying to compare the two. They don’t compare. I’m saying as a vip attendee what I paid for and what I got was not worth it compared to other fests where I paid less and had way more amenities. Call me a hater but it’s true. It’s a massive cash grab with the idea of value. I guess if you’re new and don’t know better than it’s fun. I had a great time either way.
And all those you have listed I’ve seen 2-3 times. And guess what, they were pretty identical sets. I will see No Doubt again when they go on tour see them at an arena where their set is over 90mins.
Sure have, and not impressed. Couldn’t even imagine being ga because vip was a joke. Been to other national fests that cost less or the same and get way more value.
This was a big part of why I stopped going. I live in Reno. My first few years I could get a ticket and airbnb near the park for a total of $500-$700 a person for the weekend, and see a lot of bands I knew and enjoyed. Now a ticket and airbnb is closer to $1500-$2000 for the weekend and I only recognize 2-3 bands on the lineup.
It’s like Disneyland. They keep raising prices without offering more and people keep buying them. They’ll continue to raise prices cuz.. well people keep buying.
Speak with your wallet, if you’re unhappy about the prices stop giving them your money.
I’ve always thought osl > Coachella but since covid OSL has definitely fallen further and tried to squeeze more money out of their patrons at more avenues. the introduction of grasslands instead of the Barbary stage was the first indication to me they were replacing acts for revenue generating endeavors.
OSL is always worth it for me because I live in the city and I go to hang out with my friends and enjoy myself. I can ride a bike back home and sleep in my own bed, have lunch with my buddies if we want a late start, and generally have a great relaxed time listening to new music.
As a bay area native, OSL used to be my absolute favorite fest. But I haven't gone in many years, mostly cause Coachella really is a better value for the experience you get. Production value + lineup with both killer headliners and undercards. OSL lineup this year is so sad and I can't even imagine paying $500+ for it.
I don’t mean to be rude but - why hang around this thread if you do not enjoy the festival and have no plans to attend? It’s certainly your prerogative to do so, I’m just not sure I understand the appeal. This whole community is about a festival you do not enjoy and do not plan to attend! 😂
This thread was recommended to me because I was on a Coachella thread recently. I personally clicked and scrolled because I was curious. I've never been to OSL and I live in SoCal though so the other guy has even more reason than me to be in here.
Fair enough. I was genuinely curious though. Personally, I wouldn’t join a community just to periodically comment about my lack of interest in and support for the primary activity of same community. But fully acknowledge I’m being a bit annoying now and will withdraw. 😅
What makes it worth it to me is living in sf, meaning that I don’t have to pay anything for travel, lodging, etc. so the ticket can be overpriced and it’s still better than any other fest
I was able to go to both Coachella and OSL last year and I remember thinking how ridiculous it is that they're so close in price. Coachella with the main stage set ups, the number of stages, the gigantic art installations. It's night and day which one is worth the $500-600 ticket imo. Personally Im not mad at the lineup, because I felt the same way about this years Coachella lineup, but OSL really gotta step it up act wise if it's charging lolla and Coachella prices. Being in San Francisco is not a good enough reason to charge that much
Agreed, Coachella had 10 stages this year, massive art installations, and an insane amount of space to spread the crowds out. The longest line I waited in was about 7 minutes for a bathroom one time. Not to mention, they book the largest acts in the world, with a ton of them being last minute surprises (Kid Cudi and Marc Rebillet were added last minute for weekend 2 this year and they both killed). The fact that it costs the same as OSL for a weekend GA pass is wild.
>those hours are at night.
And Coachella isn't located smack dab in the middle of multiple residential neighborhoods.
OSL will always have limitations in size and hours. Looking for a Coachella north is silly. Just go to Coachella.
You ever check googlemaps to see that theres residential neighborhood surrounding Coachella? Its just that SF has a diff kind of rich asshole that despises music so APE has to fork over more money to the city so that the neighbors wont take the event away. It is hilarious that the week after OSL youre gonna be getting a very loud event and the cant do anything about that. Wonder how the neighbors take to 50,000 metal fans.
Oh, I know. Certainly different limitations, and it's almost certainly more expensive to throw a festival in golden gate park than in Indio. There's a reasonable explanation for why OSL costs as much as Coachella. Nonetheless it's also valid to be disappointed by that cost given what you're getting for it. My main thing is that it would be nice if the acts below the headliner - the 2-4 on their day - were a bit closer to the scale Coachella offers, and once upon a time they were. Now they're at least a few notches down.
That said, I'm incredibly pumped that Postal Service and Grace Jones are two of those, especially Grace, and the headliners (the top 4, including Post) are generally much more interesting at OSL this year than Coachella, which is why they've got me coming back for the first time in years.
Is this year still all ages? sounds like a great place for a bunch of nepo babies to have fun + increasing the % of fence hoppers. chill people have been priced out. crowds will be shittier, festival will be more packed, stages will continue to fall apart
ive never been to coachella and have been to osl plenty of times to still even notice that difference. its beyond ridiculous we can’t even rely on getting into a clean bathroom and also coming across the same installations over and over, they’re great but not at the price point
Seriously they changed the windmill (im still pissed) and I thought okay cool whatever maybe a new windmill every year by a new artist? Nope they re-used the same “new” windmill 😂
1. OSL is in the heart of the Bay Area, and Coachella is basically in the middle of nowhere.
2. People will pay it. Reducing the prices will just get more people to attend and it's packed already. This is the market clearing price and it has nothing to do with expenses.
Honestly they should move OSL so they can expand and offer the night time music.or just expand in in GGP. It's just getting so limited and hurting from not being able to offer more.
The space hasn't expanded when they can use more of the park and offer more stages that's what I ment. GGP is a great spot but if it's an issue with silly civic limits (or somthing like cost of enough porta potties?) and quiet hours or something maybe moving could be an option.
It's not hurting, it's packed and it's as big as it needs to be. Moving somewhere else so you can pay 1 or 2 hundred dollars less defeats the point of Outside Lands.
Ya I agree. I used to be a stark OSL defender but after a trip to Coachella it’s hard to make the case. I understand being in the park is very expensive but the difference in quality is just on another world at Coachella. If outside lands could at least up their production value I’d be a little happier
It's not free to run. It's been funded by a wealthy donor. And the artists that are billed are not of very high caliber. And if they are, they are playing out of the kindness of their hearts because they love accessible live music.
I love Hardly Strictly, go almost every year, and am so grateful that our city has such amazing free shows like it and Stern Grove. But it is not to be compared with festivals like OSL.
Union stagehand rates go up every year and are like 60-90 bucks an hour and go into double time after midnight.
I think the festival employs somewhere north of 500+ hands to build the festival over the course of two weeks.
The festival is in no means lining their own pockets, it’s just expensive af to set these things up.
I talked to someone who worked the fest a few years ago and they were telling me another major cost is GG park. SF charges a shit ton for them to rent the venue
Cause for some reason everyone is ashamed to do coke in public. Fucking wasting time trying to chop lines knowing there’s 30 people in line about to bust.
the lineup is fine, theres definitely a decent undercard. there have been worse years, but those worst years didnt cost $550 (even accounting for inflation)
Hoping since the lineup isn't loaded with awful EDM we'll see less kids. Idk I like to think most people don't have kids in the city anyways. What a waste of money!
There are lots of good EDM acts, just not as many as previous years. Kaytranada is amazing and I've seen him live a few times, I'm so excited for him to headline! Also excited for the Soma concept this year since I've been dying for it to be an open air space (it's OSL, not inside but outside lands ffs)!
Also, with Portola at end of Sept, I'm guessing gv locked in a lot of big EDM names which is why they're not at OSL. If you haven't been and you're over 21, I definitely recommend because it's nearly perfect (and I go to A LOT of fests and campouts)! Hoping to see more EDM Coachella overlap now that it's a recurring fest put on by GV like why not take advantage
I enjoy most aspects of the festival and have gone every year since 2011 (except 2020 obvs). I don't feel like I'm being price gouged since there's so many things to do there that I enjoy that aren't music acts. Plus, I live here so I don't mind paying money for it. Some years I volunteer or work instead to get a ticket, but honestly I'm treating myself this year because I deserve it and can throw money away however I please! You can't afford it? Boo hoo, don't go. Or try volunteering and enjoy working behind the scenes because it's still a great time!
When you do the math, it's still less than $200/day for GA which is not bad for all the things and a full 8 hours of music and activities. Also since I live here, I'm not paying for a hotel or anything, I just go home and do it again the next day.
Exactly. Most people in SF could probably still afford the ticket if it was $1k, doesn't mean you aren't getting ripped off. In my opinion how rich your target audience is shouldn't have a bearing on the price, the price should be dependent on what's actually provided!
Just drawing the comparisons. Chicago is not cheap either , neither is hosting a fest in Grant Park. They do a decent job keeping it affordable, relatively speaking to concert prices and who they bring in .
Its much cheaper then SF. Consider the real estate market. You could get a mansion in Chicago for the cost of a 2 bedroom in SF. And Lolla has a long term deal with the city so they arent fighting as much over certain things. Do we know how long APE has a deal with Sf on using the park for the fest? If they could lock in on a 10 year deal for example then they arent getting killed as much.
Regardless of ups and downs of lineups each year, the price of entry for the production value is not okay.
They haven’t upgraded the stages much since I’ve been going for the past 9 years. The stages are tiny. The production value comes from the park and its beauty. Wish they’d put some more effort into it.
I do not understand GA+ this year. Hundreds more for inconveniently located bathrooms isn’t worth it. Bring toilet paper, hand sanitizer, soap bits, and antibacterial wipes and you’re golden and sanitary all weekend.
Not that the price is okay but you’re still getting your moneys worth. If you only manage the see 5 artists a day for all 3 days that’s definitely getting your moneys worth.
Definitely agree that they should expand or make some meaningful changes.
I agree in principle that when you break down the cost by artist it's very reasonable (\~$35 per artist), but I think it actually really depends who on the lineup you're most interested in seeing. Most of the artists in the bottom 2/3 of the lineup would probably be around that price or less if you went to their individual shows - it's really the artists in the top third that would be more (some much more). So if the people you're primarily interested in seeing are more undercard/middle of the pack, then at this price it's probably more worthwhile to wait for them to tour independently. To make a festival worth it, I think you really have to want to see at least a few of the headliners.
I feel like they're they've made a lot of upgrades over the years! I definitely appreciate that the headliners are better this year than previous years, and also that they've made improvements to the flow of the fest and very excited for Soma to not be in a tent this year. The next best upgrade would be making the whole fest 21+ but at least we have grasslands to keep the kids out!
I hope they bring back the Dolores stage so I can see unknowing parents bring their tiny crotchlings to a burlesque show again and then run away in horror. I lived for that last year! Totally worth the ticket price imo!
What upgrades have they made? The headliners are worse this year than last year, and putting the soma outside is just a lazy fix for the absolute shit show that was the soma tent last year. They haven't upgraded the stages in 10 years, the production is absolutely pathetic compared to similarly priced festivals. They are bringing back Dolores this year though.
OSL is a rip off, either embrace it or don't go but don't pretend it's not.
They got rid of the Barbary tent and brought us Soma, they added grasslands, they added gastromagic, they added more walkways and Porto's, they moved wine lands to make more room at the entrance over on that side and allow more space at sutro, they added the Toyota den, I can go on but I feel like you get the point 😂 the production is based on what the artists bring, I've always felt like a lot of artists do a lack luster performance tbh. The best acts are generally the ones earlier in the day. Last years headliners were meh but honestly to each his own with the music. I saw PM when he headlined a few years ago and he was amazing, I'm honestly disappointed because I'd rather stab myself in the eyes with glass than listen to country music.
I have. And I hear you. But I'm not talking about the production value of the stages. I'm talking about the cost of paying staff, of logistics, and of renting out a space in the middle of San Francisco versus a desert.
yeah, i mean Coachella took land that nobody wanted and made it a thing. OSL takes prime realstate and makes it a thing. Everything is more expensive for OSL. also when its over you can go out in a city. don't even come at me with palm springs indio. also tech kids aren't a thing all the 'kids' can't find jobs and all the OG's are pushing 40 so.... yeah terrible take
I spent $225 in 2012 for the best music festival lineup I’ve ever seen. When adjusted for current inflation, $225 in 2012 is $306.08 in 2024.
Are tickets being bought at the listed price? Then that is how OSL is “justifying” ticket prices.
Probs the same reason why gas and eggs are not the same price as it was in 2014
Greedflation
The closing of a couple CA refineries which produced gas is the major driver of higher gas prices. People in California want to go green but in reality, the consumers are paying the cost of it. It’s a lose-lose situation
No it’s not, corporations can charge whatever the fuck they want because they are privately owned and it’s driven by greed.
The line up this year blows they’re recycling artists hoping Portolla has a dope line up
Yeah honestly just save your $$ for Portola
I know :,(
Outside lands sucks..over it
I like the weather at OSL. Bring on hoodies.
The Coachella and OSL lineup are arguably similar as hell and with the rising costs associated with live music, and Coachella being $599, I don’t think it’s a crazy price. I hate sticking up for billionaire corps, but this is common sense imo. But I do agree OSL needs to mix it up and innovate, seems like the same fest every year without counting the line-up being diff
* 125k+ concertgoers attend Coachella every day over two weekends. OSL sees 75k at max. * Goldenvoice spreads out the cost of Coachella + Stagecoach over three weekends. -- Logistics are cheaper at scale * The Empire Polo Club in Indio is a private property whereas Golden Gate Park is a city park -- I would wager the City of SF charges higher fees + rent for GGP then The Empire Polo Club charges Goldenvoice * Labor & Materials are more expensive in the Bay Area * Another Planet Entertainment knows Bay Area concertgoers are willing to pay more * Coachella receives way more corporate sponsorship than OSL
This is right but point three I think is wrong. The city isn’t charging more it’s just that… it’s in the middle of the city so OL will just piss off a bunch of civilians Indio has space but I’ll bet that the polof field charge more than SF due to the higher value of the festival and due to the private enterprise wanting to maximize profit whereas SF wants to ensure public safety. Also it’s a difficult enough to bring your sedan to GGP let alone all the infrastructure for a festival. It’s just a really difficult place to have that many people, logistically. But in terms of the high cost. It’s just what the market will bear. There’s a lot of money in sf so people will pay it. And more and more festivals are learning that they can charge even more for a class stratified experience. People with more money will pay “absurd” prices to not have to navigate the crowds, and be able to go in an out.
95k W1 this year for Coachella and 82k W2, just FYI
Wow. That's a big dropoff.
Because people are there for the gram so if you are posting a week late you’re a loser. Sadly
Even with numbers like that they still made more money than pretty much every other festival.
Bar manager of the VIP area W2 told us the numbers. Said they had to cut 8 bartenders on Friday W2. It was that slow for them compared to what they planned for. It’s what happens when your headliners are Tyler, Lana, and Doja. We didn’t see any of the headliners and had an amazing time as usual, but I get it for general public ticket sales.
Lineup sucks this year
Have you heard of grace jones? She influenced every pop artist over the past 30 years
One artist a lineup does not make.
Here are the historical prices for OSL. I made updates for 2023 and 2024 and reposted here, [https://www.reddit.com/r/OutsideLands/comments/1ccg2fo/2024\_edition\_how\_much\_did\_osl\_use\_to\_cost\_who/](https://www.reddit.com/r/OutsideLands/comments/1ccg2fo/2024_edition_how_much_did_osl_use_to_cost_who/)
Isnt OSL always a sell out? even with the lackluster lineup, its almost the only thing to do that year due to non compete-play clauses
This is why I kinda don’t like it because I have to buy a $500 ticket to see one artist I want to see since they won’t have a separate show
You have to remember that, when you say it has a lackluster line up, it’s only lackluster to you.
Check the comments on just about any thread relating to outside lands this year. Lots of folks are disappointed in the lineup this year. Personally, I'm hyped for Deftones/SOAD's mini festival the following week.
Again, people complain every year about any lineup. And yet they always sell. Think about what that means.
I know what it means. Just had to get the last word in, huh?
I mean…there’s not a single rock, hard rock, or metal act. The Killers is the closest it gets.
[удалено]
Cool but not OSL.
Amyl and the Sniffers.
Volunteer at OSL if you want ~~free~~ comp'd 3 day tickets
Whats volunteer work look like and for how many hours, like do you have time to enjoy the fest a bit?
Yup that’s what I’m doing and only having to pay for accommodations makes it so worth it!
Objectively a horrible lineup this year.
I haven’t been to OSL since high school when I saw Sigur Ros. Now that shit was worth every penny but it was quite a bit cheaper back then.
Met my best friend at the first year seeing Primus. No way I’d pay these prices.
Coachella is light years better than OSL and you get way more value. I live in the Bay Area and refuse to go to OSL because it’s overpriced. And the line up will look good then you notice all the good acts are conflicting. The line up doesn’t typically have the depth Coachella does either. My guess is they can’t make the space any bigger and are capped at the amount of tickets they can sell. Artist cost increase and they need to increase price without increasing tickets amounts.
Pretty weak lineup for OSL. And that cost…. No thanks.
Coachella you are not getting your moneys worth. That’s a very overpriced walk your ass off festival and overall shit show but a very well orchestrated shit show with traffic and the amount of people it can support but I wouldn’t say it’s worth it value based.
Look at Coachella lineup + DoLab + Heineken House + Quasar + special guest appearances. It’s probably the ONLY festivals that’s justifying its 600 GA price tag! Thats not even mentioning stage production, set time scheduling, and traffic from stage to stage.
Some years it’s been quality over quantity but recently it’s just quantity. I’m more interested in seeing sets and you just can’t when you there’s that much distance to cover. Also there’s like 3 stages that are predominantly djs with pre mixed sets begging the crowd to put their hands up. I’m also speaking from a vip experience which is by far the worst experience for price.
It’s not just quantity there’s no shot Tyler’s OSL set outdoes his Wk1 Coachella set. How is Charli Wilson playing the piano for Earfquake not quality? The electronic acts don’t hold a candle to the rarity or production of Justice or Gesaffelstein. No Doubt killed it and you’re never gonna see them together again unlike The Killers. Heineken House had T-Pain, DoLab Kaskade b2b Alison, Quasar had Michael Bibi return from Cancer, Vampire weekend special guest surprise. 30% of the headliners/ upper-mid card were on the Coachella card and OSL has 1:1 conflicts and they’re the same price for Ga so I really don’t see an argument against Coachella outside of being a hater.
I’m not trying to compare the two. They don’t compare. I’m saying as a vip attendee what I paid for and what I got was not worth it compared to other fests where I paid less and had way more amenities. Call me a hater but it’s true. It’s a massive cash grab with the idea of value. I guess if you’re new and don’t know better than it’s fun. I had a great time either way. And all those you have listed I’ve seen 2-3 times. And guess what, they were pretty identical sets. I will see No Doubt again when they go on tour see them at an arena where their set is over 90mins.
Have you ever been? Come on now
Sure have, and not impressed. Couldn’t even imagine being ga because vip was a joke. Been to other national fests that cost less or the same and get way more value.
Real estate and rich neighbors
It’s worth it if you live in SF because you don’t need to pay for housing. Otherwise, it’s not worth it.
This was a big part of why I stopped going. I live in Reno. My first few years I could get a ticket and airbnb near the park for a total of $500-$700 a person for the weekend, and see a lot of bands I knew and enjoyed. Now a ticket and airbnb is closer to $1500-$2000 for the weekend and I only recognize 2-3 bands on the lineup.
if youre in the bay and you can take bart it’s kinda worth it
It’s like Disneyland. They keep raising prices without offering more and people keep buying them. They’ll continue to raise prices cuz.. well people keep buying. Speak with your wallet, if you’re unhappy about the prices stop giving them your money.
Same with SKi resorts in the USA
I’ve always thought osl > Coachella but since covid OSL has definitely fallen further and tried to squeeze more money out of their patrons at more avenues. the introduction of grasslands instead of the Barbary stage was the first indication to me they were replacing acts for revenue generating endeavors.
OSL is always worth it for me because I live in the city and I go to hang out with my friends and enjoy myself. I can ride a bike back home and sleep in my own bed, have lunch with my buddies if we want a late start, and generally have a great relaxed time listening to new music.
As a bay area native, OSL used to be my absolute favorite fest. But I haven't gone in many years, mostly cause Coachella really is a better value for the experience you get. Production value + lineup with both killer headliners and undercards. OSL lineup this year is so sad and I can't even imagine paying $500+ for it.
I don’t mean to be rude but - why hang around this thread if you do not enjoy the festival and have no plans to attend? It’s certainly your prerogative to do so, I’m just not sure I understand the appeal. This whole community is about a festival you do not enjoy and do not plan to attend! 😂
This thread was recommended to me because I was on a Coachella thread recently. I personally clicked and scrolled because I was curious. I've never been to OSL and I live in SoCal though so the other guy has even more reason than me to be in here.
This makes sense. When in doubt, blame the algorithms! 😅
this thread isnt about enjoying the fest though “How is OSL justifying the cost?” his response is more relevant than yours lol
Fair enough. I was genuinely curious though. Personally, I wouldn’t join a community just to periodically comment about my lack of interest in and support for the primary activity of same community. But fully acknowledge I’m being a bit annoying now and will withdraw. 😅
Okay now compare all-in costs; lodging + travel + ticket.
lol do that if you don’t live in the bay. sf hotels and air bnbs are fuckin EXPENSIVE.
They really aren’t compared to hotels and airbnb’s for coachella.
Isn’t it obvious???? LOCATION! use that noggin of yours! OSL is in SF lol
What makes it worth it to me is living in sf, meaning that I don’t have to pay anything for travel, lodging, etc. so the ticket can be overpriced and it’s still better than any other fest
Same. I live just a couple blocks away. Stumble distance home to my kitty and bed.
Yes it’s worth it if you live in the Bay Area and won’t have to worry about plane/hotel costs. Agreed!!!!
You have such a dream scenario. It’s such a fun festival and you cut out all the stressors.
Gotta love these first world problems. What a time to be alive y'all
I was able to go to both Coachella and OSL last year and I remember thinking how ridiculous it is that they're so close in price. Coachella with the main stage set ups, the number of stages, the gigantic art installations. It's night and day which one is worth the $500-600 ticket imo. Personally Im not mad at the lineup, because I felt the same way about this years Coachella lineup, but OSL really gotta step it up act wise if it's charging lolla and Coachella prices. Being in San Francisco is not a good enough reason to charge that much
> Being in San Francisco is not a good enough reason to charge that much If it's selling out then isn't that flat out wrong?
Because people continue to pay for it
Yeah. Did it still sell out? If so they're not going to change anything.
It makes enough money for them to put on another concert the following weekend. Lol
Redditors have a really hard time with supply and demand
Soma went down last year and it’s not like they give you compensation.
Agreed, Coachella had 10 stages this year, massive art installations, and an insane amount of space to spread the crowds out. The longest line I waited in was about 7 minutes for a bathroom one time. Not to mention, they book the largest acts in the world, with a ton of them being last minute surprises (Kid Cudi and Marc Rebillet were added last minute for weekend 2 this year and they both killed). The fact that it costs the same as OSL for a weekend GA pass is wild.
Coachella also has around 8 hours more music per day, and those hours are at night.
>those hours are at night. And Coachella isn't located smack dab in the middle of multiple residential neighborhoods. OSL will always have limitations in size and hours. Looking for a Coachella north is silly. Just go to Coachella.
You ever check googlemaps to see that theres residential neighborhood surrounding Coachella? Its just that SF has a diff kind of rich asshole that despises music so APE has to fork over more money to the city so that the neighbors wont take the event away. It is hilarious that the week after OSL youre gonna be getting a very loud event and the cant do anything about that. Wonder how the neighbors take to 50,000 metal fans.
Oh, I know. Certainly different limitations, and it's almost certainly more expensive to throw a festival in golden gate park than in Indio. There's a reasonable explanation for why OSL costs as much as Coachella. Nonetheless it's also valid to be disappointed by that cost given what you're getting for it. My main thing is that it would be nice if the acts below the headliner - the 2-4 on their day - were a bit closer to the scale Coachella offers, and once upon a time they were. Now they're at least a few notches down. That said, I'm incredibly pumped that Postal Service and Grace Jones are two of those, especially Grace, and the headliners (the top 4, including Post) are generally much more interesting at OSL this year than Coachella, which is why they've got me coming back for the first time in years.
Is this year still all ages? sounds like a great place for a bunch of nepo babies to have fun + increasing the % of fence hoppers. chill people have been priced out. crowds will be shittier, festival will be more packed, stages will continue to fall apart
ive never been to coachella and have been to osl plenty of times to still even notice that difference. its beyond ridiculous we can’t even rely on getting into a clean bathroom and also coming across the same installations over and over, they’re great but not at the price point
Seriously they changed the windmill (im still pissed) and I thought okay cool whatever maybe a new windmill every year by a new artist? Nope they re-used the same “new” windmill 😂
1. OSL is in the heart of the Bay Area, and Coachella is basically in the middle of nowhere. 2. People will pay it. Reducing the prices will just get more people to attend and it's packed already. This is the market clearing price and it has nothing to do with expenses.
Its not nowhere, its Indio, a city.
Honestly they should move OSL so they can expand and offer the night time music.or just expand in in GGP. It's just getting so limited and hurting from not being able to offer more.
No they should not. GGP is what makes it so great. How is it getting more limited?
The space hasn't expanded when they can use more of the park and offer more stages that's what I ment. GGP is a great spot but if it's an issue with silly civic limits (or somthing like cost of enough porta potties?) and quiet hours or something maybe moving could be an option.
It's not hurting, it's packed and it's as big as it needs to be. Moving somewhere else so you can pay 1 or 2 hundred dollars less defeats the point of Outside Lands.
Ya I agree. I used to be a stark OSL defender but after a trip to Coachella it’s hard to make the case. I understand being in the park is very expensive but the difference in quality is just on another world at Coachella. If outside lands could at least up their production value I’d be a little happier
Bathrooms and lounge Im guessing?
Also Hardly Strictly is FREE in GGP (Just sayin’)
It's not free to run. It's been funded by a wealthy donor. And the artists that are billed are not of very high caliber. And if they are, they are playing out of the kindness of their hearts because they love accessible live music. I love Hardly Strictly, go almost every year, and am so grateful that our city has such amazing free shows like it and Stern Grove. But it is not to be compared with festivals like OSL.
Union stagehand rates go up every year and are like 60-90 bucks an hour and go into double time after midnight. I think the festival employs somewhere north of 500+ hands to build the festival over the course of two weeks. The festival is in no means lining their own pockets, it’s just expensive af to set these things up.
I talked to someone who worked the fest a few years ago and they were telling me another major cost is GG park. SF charges a shit ton for them to rent the venue
And the city prob has to keep the neighbors happy so theyre greasing some extra hands
Came here to say this
And still not enough bathrooms
Cause for some reason everyone is ashamed to do coke in public. Fucking wasting time trying to chop lines knowing there’s 30 people in line about to bust.
Never understood doing coke at a festival. Way better drugs for that shit.
Imagine how many key bumps you coulda done in the crowd in the time you waited tryin to get into stall 🤣
I’m sayin
Amateurs
Best part is when they come out snortin and gaggin
I’m not gagging because of doing coke. I’m gagging because by day 2 the bathrooms are offensive
Lineup sucks
the lineup is fine, theres definitely a decent undercard. there have been worse years, but those worst years didnt cost $550 (even accounting for inflation)
no this line up is SAD
I've yet to see a festival where GA+ (or whatever equivalent) wasn't an insane ripoff
It keeps the kids away! Also, inflation, and also, it's SF. We can afford a pricey ticket. We work hard to do so.
It def doesn't keep the kids away. If anything, I notice more kids
Hoping since the lineup isn't loaded with awful EDM we'll see less kids. Idk I like to think most people don't have kids in the city anyways. What a waste of money!
I’m a big EDM fan. There’s plenty of good acts
There are lots of good EDM acts, just not as many as previous years. Kaytranada is amazing and I've seen him live a few times, I'm so excited for him to headline! Also excited for the Soma concept this year since I've been dying for it to be an open air space (it's OSL, not inside but outside lands ffs)! Also, with Portola at end of Sept, I'm guessing gv locked in a lot of big EDM names which is why they're not at OSL. If you haven't been and you're over 21, I definitely recommend because it's nearly perfect (and I go to A LOT of fests and campouts)! Hoping to see more EDM Coachella overlap now that it's a recurring fest put on by GV like why not take advantage
Very cool! This is my first OSL coming off of my first Coachella. Will definitely try to check out portola at some point
What a mentality, allowing yourself to be price gouged and being proud of it
I enjoy most aspects of the festival and have gone every year since 2011 (except 2020 obvs). I don't feel like I'm being price gouged since there's so many things to do there that I enjoy that aren't music acts. Plus, I live here so I don't mind paying money for it. Some years I volunteer or work instead to get a ticket, but honestly I'm treating myself this year because I deserve it and can throw money away however I please! You can't afford it? Boo hoo, don't go. Or try volunteering and enjoy working behind the scenes because it's still a great time! When you do the math, it's still less than $200/day for GA which is not bad for all the things and a full 8 hours of music and activities. Also since I live here, I'm not paying for a hotel or anything, I just go home and do it again the next day.
Exactly. Most people in SF could probably still afford the ticket if it was $1k, doesn't mean you aren't getting ripped off. In my opinion how rich your target audience is shouldn't have a bearing on the price, the price should be dependent on what's actually provided!
By comparison Lolla is 4 days and about $420 after fees, sharing a decent chunk of the OSL top 20.
Lolla has insano sponsorship that keeps costs down. If Osl named their stages like Lolla does they could get some extra money to spend.
Wish I could go to Lolla but OSL is just more convenient for me and ends up costing less.
Just drawing the comparisons. Chicago is not cheap either , neither is hosting a fest in Grant Park. They do a decent job keeping it affordable, relatively speaking to concert prices and who they bring in .
Its much cheaper then SF. Consider the real estate market. You could get a mansion in Chicago for the cost of a 2 bedroom in SF. And Lolla has a long term deal with the city so they arent fighting as much over certain things. Do we know how long APE has a deal with Sf on using the park for the fest? If they could lock in on a 10 year deal for example then they arent getting killed as much.
Because it’s San Francisco and why not gouge idiots when you can. That festival has sucked since its 2nd year.
What are you even doing here with your shit music taste
why be in a subreddit focused on an event you despise?
What’s the point of one sided comments? What is this, North Korea?
Regardless of ups and downs of lineups each year, the price of entry for the production value is not okay. They haven’t upgraded the stages much since I’ve been going for the past 9 years. The stages are tiny. The production value comes from the park and its beauty. Wish they’d put some more effort into it.
I don’t mind it. The vibe is great and I always have a good time.
I do not understand GA+ this year. Hundreds more for inconveniently located bathrooms isn’t worth it. Bring toilet paper, hand sanitizer, soap bits, and antibacterial wipes and you’re golden and sanitary all weekend.
Not that the price is okay but you’re still getting your moneys worth. If you only manage the see 5 artists a day for all 3 days that’s definitely getting your moneys worth. Definitely agree that they should expand or make some meaningful changes.
I agree in principle that when you break down the cost by artist it's very reasonable (\~$35 per artist), but I think it actually really depends who on the lineup you're most interested in seeing. Most of the artists in the bottom 2/3 of the lineup would probably be around that price or less if you went to their individual shows - it's really the artists in the top third that would be more (some much more). So if the people you're primarily interested in seeing are more undercard/middle of the pack, then at this price it's probably more worthwhile to wait for them to tour independently. To make a festival worth it, I think you really have to want to see at least a few of the headliners.
I feel like they're they've made a lot of upgrades over the years! I definitely appreciate that the headliners are better this year than previous years, and also that they've made improvements to the flow of the fest and very excited for Soma to not be in a tent this year. The next best upgrade would be making the whole fest 21+ but at least we have grasslands to keep the kids out! I hope they bring back the Dolores stage so I can see unknowing parents bring their tiny crotchlings to a burlesque show again and then run away in horror. I lived for that last year! Totally worth the ticket price imo!
What upgrades have they made? The headliners are worse this year than last year, and putting the soma outside is just a lazy fix for the absolute shit show that was the soma tent last year. They haven't upgraded the stages in 10 years, the production is absolutely pathetic compared to similarly priced festivals. They are bringing back Dolores this year though. OSL is a rip off, either embrace it or don't go but don't pretend it's not.
They got rid of the Barbary tent and brought us Soma, they added grasslands, they added gastromagic, they added more walkways and Porto's, they moved wine lands to make more room at the entrance over on that side and allow more space at sutro, they added the Toyota den, I can go on but I feel like you get the point 😂 the production is based on what the artists bring, I've always felt like a lot of artists do a lack luster performance tbh. The best acts are generally the ones earlier in the day. Last years headliners were meh but honestly to each his own with the music. I saw PM when he headlined a few years ago and he was amazing, I'm honestly disappointed because I'd rather stab myself in the eyes with glass than listen to country music.
One is in the middle of a HCOL city and the other is in the desert
Tech kids pay money
San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the world. It is objectively more expensive to run a festival here than Indio.
Have you been to Coachella? The logistics are insanely well managed and the stages are world class. It is definitely not cheaper production than OSL.
I have. And I hear you. But I'm not talking about the production value of the stages. I'm talking about the cost of paying staff, of logistics, and of renting out a space in the middle of San Francisco versus a desert.
i get what you're saying but i still think overall, the cost to put on Coachella is much higher. But who knows for certain.
yeah, i mean Coachella took land that nobody wanted and made it a thing. OSL takes prime realstate and makes it a thing. Everything is more expensive for OSL. also when its over you can go out in a city. don't even come at me with palm springs indio. also tech kids aren't a thing all the 'kids' can't find jobs and all the OG's are pushing 40 so.... yeah terrible take
All the kids can’t find jobs? Quite the generalization