Riot Fest 2022 (September 16-18, Chicago IL) Festival • Page 209

Honestly, I'm mostly fine going back to the side-by-side layout. Looks like they shifted the way they do the Deluxe main stage viewing too. Assuming that means it's going to be a raised platform which is... I don't know how I feel about that. The triangles are a solid way of doing it without getting in the way of others.

Did they move Rise or Radical at all? It kinda looks like they adjusted their angling.

 

It might be a bit confusing at first but after a few hours it's really easy to navigate. I don't remember if they give out a map at the entrance so I would try and print one just in case. For me personally all I really need to remember is where the stages are, where the food is, where is the water station and where the bathrooms are located (there are some bathrooms at the water station so that is one less thing to look for).

Also, don't trust your phone for this festival, there will be no reception as more people come in.

 

The Rise stage looks identical to 2021. Radical is further northwest away from the road and on the left side of the soccer pitch compared to last year.

 

I don't know why I'm complaining, the only time I'll be a main for more than one set is Friday haha.

 

All in all, it's a big music festival that's always chaotic as hell at like 7pm around that area anyway. Last year just felt way less chaotic with that layout. Not sure if there's anything besides how it just made everything else around feel more manageable.

 

Just noticed the deluxe/platinum corner stage viewing area triangles are gone (except the main area one by roots), and are now looking like they are at the sound booths for the other 3 stages. sucks for those buyers to have it changed without pre-warning, but great for navigation as they were essentially obstacles for everyone else

 

Yup, that's exactly what I figured. Some extra planning for the route, schedule, hydration etc with this layout but it should be just fine.

 

Absolutely! Misfits 2016 was a wild one (and our first year) and it was chaos but fine with a little more navigation! Last year just felt a little better to me personally. I'm sure they went back to this for a reason!

 

Looks like we're getting an arcade and a half pipe near where the dunk tank was last year

 

Quick weather update. Temperatures have generally trended a bit warmer on most model guidance over the past few days. Precipitation risks are dropping with only 3 out of 51 ensemble members showing precipitation in Chicago at any point during the festival. Expect highs in the mid 80's with Saturday being the hottest "feeling" day thanks to a bit more sunshine and higher dew points. Can't really ask for a better looking forecast at this range other than temperatures being a bit cooler.

 

I'm assuming it's going to be a raised platform (kinda the norm for most festivals, at this point). It would be weird to just throw it right down in the middle like that. And doing that right by the soundstage would make logical sense. The sight lines are already kinda shitty in that spot.

If it's raised, it could arguably be an improvement because it's less in the way (contradicting a previous post here, but this assumes it's along the sound booth) and if its raised? You still get a nice view without getting in the way of others. Yeah, you're not right up-front but whatever. Still pretty close with much less effort.

Last year, it was always a hassle to get to those areas toward the end of the night for Riot/Roots so this will at least cut that time down.

 

Question for locals/ people that know Chicago better than I.
I’m going to PVRIS at Cobra Lounge Friday night, was hoping to stay for most of MCR. Is taking the 94 bus to the green line a viable move? Taking the Pink line straight there seems the easiest but I’ve heard horror stories.

 

In my experience, the 94 bus service is spotty at best, especially during Riot Fest. You might be better jumping on the 49 (Western) then walking from Western/Lake to Cobra Lounge. They usually have a lot of 49 buses queuing up right outside the festival.

Edit: That is a bit of a longer walk than I realized, but still very much do-able. Depending on how early you want to leave MCR, the Pink line might be okay. With them being a basically unopposed headliner, anyone not staying for them will already be out, and I'm guessing the vast majority of the crowd stays until the end.

 

I have always hated this layout at RF. Is what it is, though. Last year was almost perfect.

 

I was hoping to stay til the encore and then listen to the end while walking. Thank you so much for the advice, I’m sure I’ll have more questions as the week goes.

 

Literally the only bad thing about last year was the sun in your eyes in the afternoon at Roots. It was much easier to move around between stages and that area where Roots was didn't feel like a total no-man's land in the dark.

 

The question that remains then is why they would willingly go back to the old layout

 

Yep, agreed. Otherwise was so great to navigate and you could get close to a main stage right before a set started. Wasn't as dark to move around, either, like you said. I always bring a flashlight anyway.

 

Could be anything - complaints about the sun, load-in logistics, stage angles related to the hospital, cost (only one screen shared between two stages if they're next to each other, for example). I know a couple people that work for the fest, and asking them about band booking stuff always feels weird but I will definitely ask about this if I run into them this weekend.

 

I wonder if Slipknot requested a bigger stage for his production. As I think the main stage was bigger last year compared to when Riot and Roots are next to each lthwr.

 

Probs the best will be walking to Kedzie pink line. As Cobra Lounge is just a few stops away on train and it should be a fast ride. If the platform is full, just take a train in the opposite direction for one stop.

 

Slipknot were added last minute last year so it probably wasn't a factor.

 

Any chance this provides a second route to Rebel, walking through/past the vendor section? That wouldn't necessarily cut down too much on the walk, but I remember wishing for it last year. Still, I'd guess not.

One thing it seems to definitely do is make the vendors in the "Riot Mall" way more visible from across the field. Last year everyone in my group remarked that if you didn't know to go around the Roots stage bars, you might have missed out on browsing that area.

 

Nope. It's odd that isn't explicit on the map, but the area from Sacramento/Farrar through that baseball field to the back of the Rise stage is all blocked off so bands on Rise and Rebel can load in/park.

 

My stupid brain was thinking TGUK were only doing their album and then I saw that album was like 35 minutes long. Glad I caught it, at least I will know some songs on the second part of the set.