Criticisms and Reputation
The festival has been noted for its commercial nature in comparison with other British music festivals. V Festival has received criticism for charging £10 to buy a programme - the only way festival-goers can see what time artists are performing - while others have mentioned the fact burgers cost £7 and water bottles are sometimes confiscated at the entrance, costing up to £2 once inside the grounds. Buying four crates on site would cost a person the same price as a ticket. Some fans have referred to the organisers of the event as 'greedy'.
Despite this, the New Statesman argues that the commercial nature has some advantages:
"Yet there are undeniable advantages to the environment. V is a remarkably non-threatening festival, with few of the rougher edges prevalent at other large-scale gatherings."
The Evening Standard gave the 2009 festival 3/5 stars after headliners Oasis pulled out of the Hylands Park leg of the festival due to illness. Furthermore, approximately 800 people were injured with most being down to falls causing sprains and ankle injuries.
In 2009, organisers were forced to restrict entry to Lady Gaga's performance at Chelmsford after fans became stuck trying to fight through the narrow entrance to The Arena stage.
In 2012, during Cher Lloyd's performance, the crowd booed and a bottle filled with urine was thrown at her, causing Lloyd to walk off stage. She came back on to finish her set but another bottle was thrown and she ended her set early.
Read more about this topic: V Festival
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