Theresienwiese, or Theresa’s Prado, is a square, or rather a place in the Bavarian capital, where Munich’s traditional Oktoberfest takes place, as well as other holidays, including large flea markets. Theresa Meadow is located in the heart of Munich, not far from the main train station. At the north end of the meadow is the Munich metro station of the same name. The meadow is named after Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghaus, wife of Crown Prince Ludwig I. It is here that a concert by the legendary Rammstein band is scheduled as part of the New Year’s festivities. However, his detention at this location was in question.

What is stopping the concert?

Despite representatives of the Union 90/Greens, the Left and the Ecological Democratic Party opposed the concert, the Munich City Council expressed itself in favor of holding a concert at the site of the traditional Oktoberfest. However, that doesn’t mean the concert with 145,000 spectators will take place: the decision still needs to be approved by the district administrative council, which has doubts about security measures during the planned event. The fact is that there is not much time left before the date of its performance to seriously prepare for it, and city officials have no experience of holding a concert of this magnitude on the territory of Theresa Meadow.

Spectator safety is paramount

In addition, it is necessary to guarantee the impeccable work of the police and emergency services, which will already work under great pressure on New Year’s Eve and directly on New Year’s Eve. It is also necessary to solve the problem of the arrival of a large number of spectators – in private cars and rail transport. This is not an easy logistical task.

Therefore, the SPD faction made an amendment, according to which ticket pre-sales can only begin after official authorization for the show has been received – without putting pressure on the city.

Permission for the concert by singer Andreas Gabalier, from the same organizer as the Rammstein show, was finally granted just one day before the announced date. The organizer had to hastily finalize the spectator safety concept during the mass event. According to a statement from Munich City Hall, the safety of spectators and city residents, especially on New Year’s Eve, is at the forefront.