QUEUE: Audience on their way into the concert area at Bjerke. Photo: Hallgeir Vågenes / VG
The police expect challenges when 60,000 spectators go home at the same time after the evening’s metal concert. Already before the concert, there was queuing chaos as a result of problems with the ticket system.
Published:
Updated less than 20 minutes ago
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The stage is set for German metal, a massive flame show northeast of Oslo on Sunday.
60,000 have bought tickets to see the German metal band Rammstein at Bjerke track.
The gates opened at 4:00 p.m. The concert is expected to start at 8.30pm and end at 11pm.
TV2 reported just before 7pm about queuing chaos as a result of half of the scanning system for the tickets being down, according to a security guard the channel spoke to.
According to the concert organizer, the problem was quickly resolved.
– There was a bit of online trouble with the machines used to read tickets, says Mark Vaughan in the organizing company All Things Live to VG in an email at 19.21.
– The queues are moving forward nicely now, we have good capacity and everyone will be able to get in.
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LAST TIME: Rammstein played at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo two years ago. Photo: Frode Hansen / VG
According to Vaughan, over 35,000 spectators have entered the arena.
– Despite a bit of sour weather , this has so far gone very smoothly and nicely. (..) Now the temperature is rising rapidly inside the arena, he says in the e-mail.
The road traffic center the memory Sunday morning that traffic on the roads in the area will be “greatly reduced” ahead of the concert.
At 6 p.m. they announced that highway 4 is closed in the direction of Gjelleråsen for passenger cars.
– Many motorists stopped along the road to drop off passengers, the police have therefore closed the section until further notice, writes Vegtrafikksentralen on Twitter .
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GOING HERE: Bjerke trotting track is located in the district of Bjerke, north-east of central Oslo, towards Marka. Photo: Terje Bringedal / VG
At 19.30 the police confirm that the road is still closed.
– How long will the road remain closed?
– As long as it is necessary, says operations manager in Oslo police district Rune Hekkelstrand to VG.
– There is a lot of queues and a lot of people, but it is going relatively well, he says of the general situation.
– It is as expected. There are many people going to a concert.
– Are you considering closing more roads?
– For the time being, we have control over the situation with the barriers we have now. But we assess the situation continuously.
– Can get chaotic
The police warned ahead of the concert that it could become problematic when the tens of thousands of concertgoers return home.
– It might get a bit chaotic, says operations manager in Oslo police district Per-Ivar Iversen to VG.
– Everyone would like to go home at the same time. And then there will be many people moving at the same time.
The police in Oslo have appointed a separate task manager for the concert.
– Are you worried that there will be noise?
– No, it is the traffic aspect that is the concern. We have no indications that there will be disturbances, says the operations manager.
Info
The organiser’s tips
Have the right ticket ready: All valid tickets are marked with Bjerke trotting track 24 July 2022
Be out in good time, be aware that there will be queues, and allow plenty of time to get home.
There will be long distances on the Bjerke track – be prepared for this and remember to wear good footwear.
The shuttle buses leave from Nylandsbrua from 15:30 and until Rammstein takes the stage. Look for large, red helium balloons. There are the shuttle buses.
Public transport: Take the subway to Økern. From there it takes approx. 15 min. to go to Bjerke trotbane.
It is a nice walk from several different hubs around the city.
Times: The area opens at 4 p.m. Duo Abélard plays at 19.30, then Rammstein. 23.00 is the latest finish
–sea view
The transport company Ruter warned in advance against holding a concert at Bjerke trotbane, because there are few public transport options nearby .
The concert organizer has set up shuttlebusser to and from the event. But the tickets were already sold out on Saturday.
There are also no parking options at the arena, according to security manager Jørgen Aas, who believes many will have to find alternative ways home.
– We hope many people will take a walk. I recommend that people take some time out of the arena, don’t push towards the exits. Take it easy, and don’t expect to be home within a short time, he told VG on Saturday.
PSSST! The last time the German metal band visited Oslo was two years ago, they got the concert dice roll 6 by VG’s reviewer.
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