Remember Fyre Festival? The disaster festival which became the subject of lawsuits and multiple documentaries. The festival that got organizer Billy McFarland was convicted of fraud, sentenced to six years in prison, and ordered to repay millions in damages.
Well, tickets for Fyre Festival 2 are now on sale.
Despite no official musical lineup being announced, tickets for the event in Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico, range from $1,400 to an eye-watering $1.1 million.
A Second Chance for Fyre Festival?
The first Fyre Festival, heavily marketed as an exclusive luxury experience, became a public relations catastrophe when attendees arrived to find inadequate accommodations, logistical failures, and major artists pulling out. Vanity Fair later referred to its founder, Billy McFarland, as “the poster boy for millennial scamming.”
McFarland was convicted of fraud, sentenced to six years in prison, and ordered to repay millions in damages. He was released after serving less than four years, with a New York court awarding $7,220 each to 277 attendees.
Now, McFarland insists that Fyre 2 will be different.
“I’m sure many people think I’m crazy for doing this again,” McFarland said in a statement. “But I feel I’d be crazy not to do it again. After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for Fyre 2. The adventure seekers who trust the vision and take the leap will help make history.”
Luxury or Another Letdown?
The highest-tier package, priced at $1.1 million, promises a VIP experience on a private yacht. McFarland explained that guests will be accommodated on luxury boats docked just off the island.
A minimum of $500,000 from ticket sales will go toward McFarland’s remaining debts, estimated at nearly $26 million.
The official festival website describes Fyre 2 as “an electrifying celebration of music, arts, cuisine, comedy, fashion, gaming, sports, and treasure hunting” with “unforgettable performances and immersive experiences.”
Although no artists have been confirmed, McFarland has stated that the lineup will feature acts from electronic, hip-hop, pop, and rock genres. Unlike the 2017 festival, McFarland says he will not be responsible for logistics and festival management, instead handing off responsibilities to a team of experienced partners.
“Fyre 2 really isn’t about the past, and it’s not really about me,” McFarland told the Today show. “It’s about taking the vision, which is strong.”
The Most Talked-About Festival in the World?
The original Fyre Festival became one of the biggest social media disasters in history, inspiring multiple documentaries, including Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened and Hulu’s Fyre Fraud.
McFarland now believes that Fyre 2 has the potential to become an annual festival that could shake up the industry.
Whether people are stupid or crazy enough to buy tickets to Fyre Festival 2 remains to be seen.
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