Hungary will refuse from Sziget 2011?

Hungary will refuse from Sziget 2011?

In Hungary under threat is one of the biggest modern rock festivals in Europe - Sziget. Organizers for several months can not agree with the authorities about funding.

Sziget is a huge rock show, which first took place in Budapest in 1993. Since then the festival has grown from a regional review of the Hungarian rock groups into one of Europe's biggest music gatherings. On the scene of Sziget played dozens of world-famous bands and artists from the Cure to the Killers, from Iggy Pop to Robert Plant. In 2011 the British edition Independent included Sziget in the top five festivals in Europe. The total number of spectators, who attended Sziget for the past three years, exceeded one million people.

The main contentious issue of the current season, which caused conflict between the organizers and the authorities in Budapest, is the rental price. At the end of January 2011 it was announced that the parties agreed on a draft funding of the festival, according to which the organizers had to pay the city treasury 62.5 million forints for the lease of one of the islands on the Danube.

However, in March, it became clear that for successful organizing of Sziget are needed additional funds. As a result, the latter amount, which promises to become an official "price tag" of Sziget, was announced on April 4, 2011. 150 million forints - so much the organizers promised the Hungarian capital for Sziget 2011.

The amount includes 50 million forints, which will be paid for the lease of the site for the festival on the island of Óbuda for 1.5 months. Also Budapest may count on the share from ticket sales. It is estimated that the amount will be around 100 million forints. For the guests of the festival organizers promised discounts on visiting some sights in Budapest, including the famous baths and zoo.

In turn, the city authorities promised to establish transport connection between the festival venues, Keleti and Nyugati train stations, as well as with the airport.

It is expected that the final decision of the city council about Sziget festival will be taken on Wednesday 6 April 2011.

Ilya Kalachev

Date: 08/04/2011