Moving Kubana Russian festival in Riga brought some losses to the organizers. However, the organizers and the local authorities promised to correct all errors by next year and to make a traditional festival.
The city hall believe that the festival guests spent in the city of about 3 million euros. The Latvian association of hotels and restaurants are not sure that this is a realistic assessment.
At the festival has sold 15 thousand tickets. In Russia, this event brings together up to 150 thousand people. “Loyalty is the limit,” – recognizes the organizer Ilya Ostrovsky.
gathered on the island Lucavsala audience really seemed a small even by Latvian standards. “Sometimes it seemed to me that the public is not enough. But when you consider that all the concerts, in fact, were different people, it develops a bad picture,” – says Ostrovsky.
The fact that the concerts were moved up to different kinds of people, it is not surprising, given the variety of styles represented in the “Kuban”: Infected Mashroom, HIM, Skindred, D12, GusGus, “Leningrad”, Lev Leshchenko and many others. By the way, Lev Leshchenko collected, perhaps, the longest line for autographs and sang “Victory Day” only for journalists, explaining the absence of the songs in the program of his speech “another format” event.
public could be more. But it happened that Kubana coincided directly with the two events similar format: Ogre in the town 35 kilometers from Riga, the festival took place, “Choi alive” with Zemfira, Ilya Lagutenko, Vyacheslav Butusov and other Russian rock musicians. A four-hour drive – in Estonian Parnu – in those days opened electronic music festival Weekend Festival Baltic, gathered on one stage Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, David Guetta and several dozen artists.
According to Ostrovsky , move to other Kubana date was not possible, because all the artists at that time had long been agreed schedule.
“We are in great loss, it is not even discussed, – says Ilya Ostrovsky. – But it was clear immediately. This is measured not one hundred thousand dollars. We were ready for it downsides. It should be understood that this year’s budget of the festival, in fact, been overdrawn at least one and a half times “.
According to the Ostrovsky, the organizers largely carried the dual rates. “We invested in the festival in Kaliningrad, something there, of course, could have been saved, but not all, – said the organizer. – The budget of the festival – about one million euros. There were years when it was five million.” According to him, the organizers were able to save, for example, by combining all the artists on stage.
The fact that in 2015 Kubana not be held in the Kaliningrad region, and in Latvia, became known for a couple months prior to the festival. Many had already reacted with skepticism to the commercial prospects of the project.
What had Riga?
For the first night the Riga municipal police had received 60 complaints from Riga, which prevented noise. On the territory of neighboring districts to sleep during the festival was really extremely difficult, especially given the 30-degree heat and open windows.
However, as explained in the Riga thought, no laws regarding noise at public events were not violated. As a result, complain to the police from Riga became smaller, but the degree of discontent in social networks not subsided: the event was called the Russian booth, asked the mayor of Riga Nil Ushakov remove it away from the city center.
According to the mayor, for This four-day music marathon from Riga received a large-scale advertising campaign in the Russian media. And advertising – the motor trade, including tourism.
“Thanks Kubana name of Riga was made in a very positive way in numerous materials in various Russian media – from the federal TV channels and major radio stations to regional newspapers and Internet resources – Ushakov wrote in his facebook. – Advertising Riga in the Russian media, of course, not a substitute for sprats. But during this difficult period of relations between Europe and Russia Lucavsala island became the world where Latvians, Russian-speaking inhabitants of our country and the Russians together listened to the European , Latvian and Russian artists “.
Ushakov also said that he came to Riga Russians left in the city of about 3 million euros. However, in this respect the opinions diverge.
“We did not let the statistics, but I have not heard that there was some rush in hotels or restaurants, – says BBC Russian Service head of the Latvian Association of Hotels and Restaurants Janis Valodze. – And, judging by the photos, it was somehow pustovato “.
The head of the tourist company Baltic Travel Group Vlad Korjagin believes that the festival has a good chance of success:” Any event that attracts Riga tourist welcome, including “Kuban”. However, the issue has become known in the past month, as a result did not come as many people as planned. But for us it is, and so the peak season, when all the hotels are booked for a long time “.
According to Vlad Koriagina lack of excitement in Riga hotels can probably be attributed to the specific needs of the target audience of the event. “As I understand it, there were students who live more interesting in the camp,” – says a tour operator.
With this, however, does not agree Kubana organizer Ilya Ostrovsky. According to him, visitors to actively spend money in the city and in the tent camp was only 200 tents. “This shows the availability of local hotels,” – says Ilya Ostrovsky.
“All fell to Riga”
Riga with his hand especially for the festival resulted in Capital Island Lucavsala order, which still had almost nothing but dry grass and shrubs uncomfortable.
Now there is a certain amount of clean sand, green lawns and paved walkways. Which, incidentally, pleased the locals, who did not hide their emotions in social networks: Yes, noise tolerate anyone not like, but at least we have one more civilized beach.
The organizers of the festival and the Riga authorities were satisfied with each other.
“[Riga authorities] did everything they promised and more, – says Ilya Ostrovsky. – We are pleased to be working with the city and all services. We’re all helping”.
Separately, the organizers point out experiences with the Latvian law enforcement agencies. “It gives me great surprise and great joy in the fact that law enforcement agencies can not communicate well, both in Russia,” What guys want to do the festival? Well, nothing you do not succeed, we will not give anything to spend. “And then we have to persuade them – Ostrovsky told reporters. – And here we said, than to help you?”
The festival organizers have promised to do everything possible to next year Kubana took place in Riga. “Hopefully, next year we will see thousands of Russians, Latvians, Estonians, Lithuanians and the Finns and the Swedes. I think everybody fell in love with Riga: it is easy to live, delicious eaten, slept well and good turns,” – said Ostrovsky journalists.
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