'Disgusting facilities' and 'extortionate prices' are among the main reasons why two thirds of Brits prefer to watch festivals from home, according to a new survey by online retailer AO.com.
While Britain's festival season remains more popular than ever and thousands of Brits clearly remain unfazed by even trench-style living conditions and days on end splashing around in knee-high mud, as exemplified by last month’s Glastonbury, the survey claims more and more are giving festivals a second thought before taking the plunge.
Speaking to 1,273 general consumers in the UK aged over 18, AO.com’s* survey apparently found that 63% would rather watch a festival at home than in person.
The top five reasons for this given were:
1. 'Disgusting public toilets' (38%)
2. 'Over-priced refreshments and merchandise' (38%)
3. 'Long queues' (27%)
4. 'Drunken crowds' (27%)
5. 'Bad British weather' (21%)
The survey also asked which music event in history respondents wished they could have attended.
The most popular answers were:
- Live Aid
- David Bowie headlining Glastonbury
- Jimi Hendrix at the Isle of Wight Festival
- Elvis during his Las Vegas residency
- Michael Jackson live in concert
- Woodstock 1969
- Frank Sinatra in concert
- Prince during his 2016 tour
- Joy Division at the Hacienda (weirdly, a gig that never actually happened)
In another slightly surreal turn, respondents were quizzed as to how much they would be willing to pay to go back in time to attend one of these events in person. The average answer was £1,418, with 13% willing to pay more than £1,600. Four and a half per cent said they would spend in excess of £10,000 for their dream ticket.
Andrew Kirkcaldy, group brand director at AO.com, said: “We believe that just because you can’t get a ticket to an event, doesn’t mean you can’t have just as much fun at home experiencing it. I think anyone who watched the excitement of Glastonbury at home will agree."
*AO.com is a home entertainment retailer.
