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Market History
This page is provided only for information, it does not apply to the 2002 festival.
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The early organisation of trading at the festival looks rather random in retrospect - with a few invited traders, many gatecrashers and hundreds of "fly pitchers". By the mid 1980s there were two well established markets, the main one being at the top of Big Ground, above the Pyramid Stage. By 1987 a third market was introduced as was a ban of public vehicles on site.
ln l989 the markets changed shape with stalls sited close together and in a circle so security could be tightened. It was likened to wagon trains in the American West forming a circle when attacked! Beyond the security aspect, this made markets self contained with water, electricity and toilets being kept separate for (catering) traders, with obvious hygiene benefits. The main market - the red market was in the middle of the site between the main stage and the Meeting Point, the Brown Market was at the top of the site near Worthy Farm itself and the Blue Market between the Meeting Point and the Theatre and Circus Fields. There were also a few stalls (the Yellow Market) near the NME Stage.
In 1992 there were two main changes. The market at the traditional site at the top of Big Ground was moved to the middle of the site leaving a solitary burger van for site office staff, medical staff and campers. As the numbers of traders increased a more sophisticated organisation was established. In early years there used to be a klondyke type of rush, with traders queuing up early until the site was opened and racing down to grab the best pitches. Now each site is marked out by markets staff and pre-sold. The method of identifying markets arid sites was changed from colour coding to naming each market with letters and numbers.
Since that time the markets have increased slowly in size in line with the increase of licence attendance figures until the year 1997, when it was felt the correct ratio of traders to festival goers had been achieved. The most important change was the opening up of Silverhayes Road between the Pyramid Stage and the Other Stage and the development of the J market which has proved to be a strong trading area even in adverse weather conditions. Also campsite cafes were developed in the different camping fields which, apart from being sound trading ventures, proved to be essential in 1997 and 1998 when the miserable weather conditions soaked people through. Having 24 hour provision of hot tea and coffee in the middle of the campsites kept people's spirits high.
To give an idea of the size of the current venture , 1995 saw 671 stalls in total with 518 in the main markets and 153 in the Green Markets. By 1998 the totals had risen to 755 in total, with a split of 612 and 143.
To see the markets from the year 2000 festival click here.
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