Riot Fest quietly rolled out a top‑tier “Backstage” package and, yes, it’s as pricey as people feared. According to an email shared by a fan, the Early Bird price for the 3‑Day Backstage Pass is $8,500 per person — and it comes with the sort of perks you’d expect from the most exclusive festival packages.
What the pass reportedly includes:
- Access to Backstage / Artist / Guest lounges
- Select side‑stage viewing (subject to artist approval)
- Golf cart transportation across the site
- Concierge support
- Premium swag bag
- All amenities from Deluxe+, Deluxe, VIP and GA tiers
Riot Fest is reportedly operating a waitlist for the package. Buyers are asked to indicate whether they want one or two passes and will be notified within two weeks if space opens — at which point payment will be collected.
The Reddit thread where the email was posted ran the usual gamut: people calling it obscene, others shrugging that GA is fine for them, and a fair number raising uncomfortable questions about what “backstage” access actually means for performers. Critics worry this kind of tiered access can turn artist spaces into a pay‑to‑be‑near experience — things meet‑and‑greets already exist to handle — and that it could make artists’ working environments more intrusive.
From the festival floor perspective, premium packages are nothing new, but the price tag and the promise of backstage proximity are likely to inflame the most vocal fans. Whether Riot Fest’s backstage tier finds enough buyers at that price — or how strictly artist access will be enforced — remains to be seen. For now, most folks in the thread said they’ll stick with GA or existing VIP options.
We’ll keep an eye on Riot Fest’s site and official announcements for any updates or clarifications about exactly what backstage access entails and how artist comfort and safety will be managed.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/RiotFest/comments/1p7lyxb/i_reached_out_to_riot_fest_about_the_cost_of_the/