Reading Festival NME Tent Capacity Increased to 20,000

[FiestaDave]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-14475171

Great news.

[Bobs]

I am curious to whether leeds will also have this large tent, i'll be well cheesed off if it doesnt.

[Benj]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-14475171

Great news.

[JC-Mo'Fucka]

Jesus, that's got to be huge hasn't it?!

Perhaps this is what's been delaying the map?

"Mr Benn said: "I've bought a brand new tent for the second stage and it is the largest tent in Europe, it's completely reshaped the site."

[mrtourette]

This came out a while ago but it's good to see confirmation of the size.

[Bisque]

Old news. It will be the R1BW main tent/Slam tent at TitP.

Much bigger than the previous incarnation. Seems to be a bit hit or miss with fans due to being more "enclosed" than the regular rectangular tent. The bottom tent from this aerial pic of TitP.

[JC-Mo'Fucka]

I didn't know it was the slam tent as well. I loved the slam tent - how it was all enclosed, makes the acts in the day work ten times better. I swear it was a lot more open at r1bw though so who knows.

I wonder if they'll put a barrier midway with this new shape tent. Can't see it fitting in personally.

[Paul ™]

I think it has, been onsite 10 days now, will check the plan.

[Benj]

I think it has, been onsite 10 days now, will check the plan.

[ar1]

the expected bad news- have they reverted to a shorter pedestrian entrance from town, or is it still the same old trek round red they've gas for the last two years?!

[Benj]

Which way round is the bad news the shorter entrance or the long trek?

[Spider43]

I didn't get the train in today but the tent wasn't up yesterday morning. The frame of the main stage is up now tho..

[johnmcga]

I went past the site on the train yesterday. The main stage was almost covered, the Festival Republic tent looked finished, the Lock Up was just four poles sticking up awaiting canvas, and there was absolutely no sign of the R1/NME tent. No poles, no canvas, nothing. Shame, cause I was hoping to see the new layout.

Exciting to see it all coming together though.

[saints15]

Am I the only one who thinks that a bigger NME Tent could result in poorer sound quality?

[Dan R]

Am I the only one who thinks that a bigger NME Tent could result in poorer sound quality?

[m.a.t.]

Isn't the slam tent from TITP only 12,000 capacity? (Apparently the same size as the old radio1/nme tent).

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/titp/info-stages.shtml

Also, does anyone know if their going to use the old radio 1 / nme tent for one of the other stages? Or maybe as a larger silent disco?

Edited August 12, 2011 by m.a.t.

[Bisque]

Isn't the slam tent from TITP only 12,000 capacity? (Apparently the same size as the old radio1/nme tent).

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/titp/info-stages.shtml

Also, does anyone know if their going to use the old radio 1 / nme tent for one of the other stages? Or maybe as a larger silent disco?

[Benj]

I could be wrong, but a previous thread lead me to believe that it will be the Slam tent. There could be extra provision for punters if the sides of the tent aren't used & there are screens (maybe).

Using the old R1/NME tent would be brilliant to reduce the queue sizes for the Silent Disco on some nights although I have a feeling this won't happen.

[Bisque]

He does state he's bought a new tent, which suggests that its not the T/BBC one, this is also backed up by the 12,000 capacity claims of that tent.

[FiestaDave]

Do festivals own the tents/stages they use? I presumed they rented them. Hence why you see Glasto's Other Stage at SGP, LED, Creamfields & the main stage at BBL is The Arc bar opposite Arcadia etc etc.

[Reading Local]

The bit after the dash is separate from the bit before the dash, it is horrifically structured though!

"I asked you this last year too, and got the bad news answer I expected.

So the same question this year hoping for a different answer but sadly very much not expecting it-

have they reverted to a shorter pedestrian entrance from town, or is it still the same old trek round red they've had for the last two years?!"

[Reading Local]

That'll be me then yep I always go past the site on the train and have been taking pics which can post on here if people like/want to see? - basically the main stage is pretty much done along with the main stage crowd safety barrier and sound/lighting tower, the tent for the dance/lock-up stage is up and also the tent for the Festival Republic stage is up, all fencing etc is all up, orange camp is all marked up & today they started putting the inner scaffolding poles up for the the R1/NME stage & fk me that is going to be one big fk off tent when its fully up judging by all the poles they had stuck up in the air

[pablopablo]

Yes please on the pics

[evilduck]

What was the capacity before?

[JohnsonWHU]

Also forgot to add all the stages appear to be in the same places as they usually are at Reading so be interesting to see what this new layout exactly entails because from what I saw today on the train the R1/NME stage will be in exactly the same place....unless it was another stage tent