Bonnaroo then vs. now: How music, ticket prices, turnout compares

Dave Paulson | The Tennessean

Show Caption Hide Caption A look back at Bonnaroo over the years Bonnaroo has been around since 2002, here's a look at the festival through the years

It's now been 16 years since Bonnaroo first came to Tennessee, turning a Manchester cow pasture into the site of one of the country's premier music festivals.

And while Bonnaroo's spirit and "radiate positivity" ethos has largely endured, life has changed quite a bit since 2002 — whether you're talking about technology, youth culture, the festival marketplace or the economy as a whole.

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How has that affected the festival? Let's contrast and compare.

The music

2002: Just over 50 acts, with the biggest names hailing from jam-band circles. Headliners included Widespread Panic, Trey Anastasio, Ben Harper and String Cheese Incident.

2018: More than 150 acts, running the gamut from rock, pop, hip-hop, electronic, country and experimental sounds. Headliners are Eminem, Muse and The Killers.

The turnout

2002: A sellout crowd of 70,000, with all tickets sold in advance.

2017: 65,000, slightly below the previous 10-year average of 73,000

Ticket price

2002: $100

2018: $274.50 to $349.50 (plus fees), depending on how early you bought. VIP and “Platinum” packages are also available.

The traffic

2002: Traffic reportedly stretched for nearly 30 miles on the eve of the festival. Getting to Manchester from nearby Murfreesboro on I-24 typically takes 30 minutes. It took many attendees between five and 10 hours.

2018: It took a couple of years, but Bonnaroo and Coffee County seem to have it down to a science. The Bonnaroo waiting line is now on the shoulder of I-24, and now that the campgrounds open early on Wednesday, the crowd filters in gradually.

Length

2002: 3 days, Friday-Sunday, June 21-23

2018: Four days, Thursday-Sunday, June 7-10. Bonnaroo became a four-day festival in 2006, and it’s stayed that way ever since.

Non-musical attractions

2002: Cinema and arcade tents, music downloading and CD burning stations, and a carnival hosted by former advocacy group TrueMajority (with games such as “Dunk the Lobbyist”)

2018: Where to begin? Bonnaroo’s campground is exploding with activities like never before, from yoga to face-painting, stand-up comedy, cocktail mixing, late-night karaoke, parades and puppet shows.

Arrests

2002: 18, “mostly for public intoxication, disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana,” The Tennessean reported.

2017: 42 arrests and 295 citations, the majority of which stemmed from “illegal possession of a controlled substance.”

Festival gear

2002: Hacky sacks, hula hoops, bucket hats, spray bottles and playing cards. How else to pass the time between sets?

2018: All of the above, plus smartphones, tons of handmade totems, glowsticks (even though they’re not allowed) and other illuminated items. And maybe not so many bucket hats…