AJ Maddah: “Venue operators are highly incompetent”

[the_flight_of_the_magpie]

[Soundwave festival boss AJ Maddah has taken to Twitter to voice his anger at the operators of Sydney’s Olympic Park calling them “highly incompetent” and urging fans to avoid spending any money at the bars. “If you’re not yet at Sydney #SW12 I suggest you eat and drink before coming in,” Maddah advised his followers. “Venue operators are highly incompetent. If you can, please do not spend your money at the bar. Save it and have a drink afterwards at an establishment that respects you. Showgrounds control their own food and beverage sales. We get no say in it.”
Maddah made similar complaints after the Harvest festival in Melbourne last year declaring on Twitter that he was “severely let down by F&B people” and complaining that he’d been forced to spend “spent 2 hours with our volunteers & staff fixing their f**k-ups”.
The Soundwave boss was also furious with the NSW police accusing them of “decid[ing], on very short notice, not to allow full bottles of water into the Showgrounds. Feel free to ask them why. If you are under 18 please have your parents write in. This is bullshit. If you are over 18, please write to your local MP and The Premier & register your complaint.”
The water bottle rules had been posted to the festival’s Facebook wall and website on Thursday and clearly state that punters were only permitted to bring “one empty water bottle and sandwiches to the show. No fruit will be allowed.”
http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/news/local/31638/AJ-Maddah-Venue-operators-are-highly-incompetent

 

[Firey_Dragon]

I was a fan of waiting 30 minutes and paying $8 for a 3.5% beer, so grabbing 4, but only before 3, otherwise you could only get 2. At which time the lines doubled.

It was a great ploy by olympic park, fleecing customers whilst ensuring it was impossible for them to get drunk. I also loved the fact that some places jacked the prices up to $5 for a bottle of water, from $3 earlier in the day. Still a bucketload better than eastern creek though.

And they wonder why people do drugs or smuggle in their own alcohol.

 

[umina panther]

I took in a bottle of vodka so I didn't spend too much

 

[CC_Eagle]

His comments about Harvest are interesting. At the Sydney version, I've got nothing but praise for the bar operators. Usually took less than five minutes, and I never waited longer than 10-15 minutes max.

 

[adamkungl]

Its pretty clear why the rules about bringing in water exist, to make it harder to smuggle spirits. Sandwiches but no fruit is an odd decision.

It is truly impossible to get drunk in a reasonable amount of time or price range. On the one hand, over 100,000 people and barely any trouble whatsoever. On the other, I like drinking.

Whatever, it's not worthg etting angry about, a good day was had by all and the lack of decent booze undoubtedly saved me $100 or so.

 

[gUt]

The best part was when the bars ran out of piss and left us with a pocket full of now-worthless drinks tickets.

 

[Firey_Dragon]

Its pretty clear why the rules about bringing in water exist, to make it harder to smuggle spirits. Sandwiches but no fruit is an odd decision.

It is truly impossible to get drunk in a reasonable amount of time or price range. On the one hand, over 100,000 people and barely any trouble whatsoever. On the other, I like drinking.

Whatever, it's not worthg etting angry about, a good day was had by all and the lack of decent booze undoubtedly saved me $100 or so.

Irrespective of whether it makes it easy to smuggle in spirits or not, sealed bottles of water should ALWAYS be permitted into a venue. Venue operators have a duty of care and having to buy a bottle of water inside the venue, just so you can later fill it up with water simply isn't good enough.

Generally the organisation was alot better than previous years, but they still have a long way to go to reach the BDO in my opinion. Food/drink lines and bathroom lines were ridiculous for a large portion of the day.

 

[adamkungl]

Irrespective of whether it makes it easy to smuggle in spirits or not, sealed bottles of water should ALWAYS be permitted into a venue. Venue operators have a duty of care and having to buy a bottle of water inside the venue, just so you can later fill it up with water simply isn't good enough.

Generally the organisation was alot better than previous years, but they still have a long way to go to reach the BDO in my opinion. Food/drink lines and bathroom lines were ridiculous for a large portion of the day.

Empty bottles were allowed in, and free water was widely available. Not saying I agree with it but it wasn't exactly a massive issue, (imo)

 

[Aaron_sfas]

I waited 10 minutes for food, and never more then 5 minutes for a beer. Just had to know where to go. And I didn't have to wait for a toilet all day

 

[Firey_Dragon]

Empty bottles were allowed in, and free water was widely available. Not saying I agree with it but it wasn't exactly a massive issue, (imo)

I'm not saying it was an issue, but I absolutely disagree that bottled water should be stopped at the gate.

 

[adamkungl]

Eh, I came with nothing except my phone and wallet, fully expecting them to be douchebags. Iirc they weren't allowing in sunscreen last year. Or maybe im mistaken.

 

[Mack 65]

AJ Maddah is highly incompetent himself.

 

[Eelectrica]

Interesting he took shots at Sydney. Brisbane was the same with regards to water. Only empty bottles allowed.
I saw an empty chocolate ice cream topping bottle on the ground in Brisbane. Well I guess it was empty. I can only imagine what was in there when it entered the ground. The probably just like ice cream and couldn't have it without choc topping. Right?

 

[Moffo]

yeh the queues were a bit ridiculous, decided not to drink at all because of that. saved myself a packet!