Simon Battersby, Showsec operations director and Download's head of security, says: "We worked closely with the Live Nation production team throughout the planning phase, working to ensure the correct crowd management plans were in place."
One key challenge was the sloping ground towards the main stage: Showsec, Live Nation and barrier suppliers Mojo Barriers worked together to create a barrier configuration which would minimise crowd pressure at the front of stage and allow relatively free movement from front of stage to other parts of the festival site. The new outdoor second stage meant there were no capacity management issues, creating a better experience for the customer.
Meanwhile, area manager Richard Church organised the logistics of accommodation, clothing, food, briefing and deployment for the 450 staff who camped in a Showsec campsite over the weekend. Several Showsec Academy Associates worked on special projects at the festival, including new logistics procedures, the introduction of new incident report management system and a disability access project. "Operationally, it was the best organised and most successful Download so far," says Battersby.
(Jim Evans)
