SWEDEN (CelebrityAccess) FKP Scorpio has announced one of Sweden’s largest festivals, Bråvalla, will not return next year after being canceled for this summer.
Spokeswoman Kajsa Apelqvist released a brief statement as to why: “It’s a very disappointing decision to take, but the overall picture we have is that we can not develop the festival in the way we want to be relevant to our visitors in the future.”
Speculation included the introduction of Lollapalooza by Live Nation created competition and that the festival had received negative attention because of a wave of sexual attacks during the past events, according to the Norrköpings Tidningar newspaper.
Organizers called off the 2018 event last year, shortly after the 2017 event closed because of at least 11 sexual assaults of young girls and one rape, leading to three arrests. Reports from the 2016 event listed as many as 40 sexual assaults.
“We have always claimed that it is not a festival problem but a social problem. How we ensure our visitors’ safety is something we are constantly developing, and that’s something we’ll never finish,” Apelqvist said, according to the paper. “I believe we have contributed to people talking, standing up and reporting criminal offenses committed. It’s good that people show that they do not take shit. That’s what we are proud of.”
As for the arrival of Lollapalooza in Stockholm next summer, Apelqvst said that was not a factor in the decision either.
“We have had plenty of time to think about what we want to do now and in ten years. Of course, competition is something that affects, but there are many reasons behind our decision. What we found out is that we will not reach where we want to be. We want to give something that the audience really loves in the future as much as they loved in these years.
“We have now come to the conclusion that we would rather develop other concepts and formats.”
The festival has hosted acts like Kanye West, Robbie Williams and Iron Maiden, among others.
