Coachella fans on Reddit recently revisited the festival’s early days after spotting a photo of a 2008 ticket stub priced at $83. This sparked a wave of nostalgic posts comparing ticket prices, festival experiences, and merchandise costs then versus now.
Ticket Prices and Design
- In 2008, single-day tickets were about $90, with three-day passes at $269—a slight hike from 2007’s $85 and $249 respectively.
- Tickets were simple printed paper with barcodes, a far cry from today’s high-tech RFID-enabled wristbands and digital passes.
Festival Atmosphere and Entry Policies
- The late 2000s Coachella was known for a more chaotic vibe, bustling with large, diverse crowds.
- Rules then required showing the exact day’s ticket to enter, adding a layer of strict control absent in some modern festivals.
How Coachella Has Changed
- Since 2012, Coachella expanded to two weekends, increasing its scale and ticket pricing significantly—general admission tickets hit roughly $400 by 2016.
- Lineups evolved, bringing in a blend of legacy acts, breakout stars, and reunions, fueling the festival’s skyrocketing popularity.
Community Reflections
Many Reddit users shared first-year memories from 2008 through the early 2010s, painting a picture of a freer, more unpredictable concert culture. This digital conversation underscores just how deeply fans cherish Coachella’s roots even as it continues to grow and transform.
Source: r/coachella