The Circoloco concert in Cairo on November 15, 2024, instead descended into anarchy leaving thousands of ticket holders stranded and many reporting unsafe conditions, in what was supposed to be a magnificent night of electronic music against the backdrop of the historic Giza Pyramids. Widespread criticism and demands for responsibility resulted from the ambitious endeavor of the esteemed electronic music brand to combine modern dance culture with one of mankind’s most famous historical locations.
“pure chaos started“
Early in the evening, the issues started as thousands of non-ticket holders tried to flood the stadium gates. By 9:00 PM, an orderly queue rapidly descended into a scene of disarray and panic. Many guests claimed that a serious security breach resulted from local citizens without tickets trying to pass through the main gates.
Attending from Dubai, a visitor who spent about $1,000 on the trip with his girlfriend noted the quick degradation of order:
Initially, the line was broadly orderly although very long. After literally few minutes (around 9.10pm) several violent crowds started to push all the way down the main gate… Surprisingly, the police on the ground (including the army) never intervened properly. Hence, the line that was initially orderly, clearly broke out and pure chaos started.
What many claimed to be a poor security reaction aggravated the situation. Police and security personnel allegedly helped to cause anarchy instead of upholding discipline. Many legal ticket holders became targets of these forceful actions as witnesses reported security officials releasing police dogs into the throngs. Batons were witnessed being used by security personnel against both illegal visitors and authorized ticket holders equally. While several attendees related unsettling events of security staff trying to loot guests of their things, others claimed the use of tear gas to control the crowd.
“it was a war zone, barely got out of there alive“
Many valid ticket holders discovered they were caught in a terrible twilight outside the arena. The anarchy at the door caused a congestion that left some never able to enter even with legitimate tickets waiting for hours. One especially remarkable story came from a party of Dutch visitors who claimed to have been left at the door with about a hundred others and had no reason for being denied access.
The experience of a Turkish guest who said, “We went to the party area at 8 o’clock and arrived inside exactly 22:30,” helped to show the degree of the delays. Many others claimed similar or even longer delays, therefore this four-and- a-half-hour wait became a regular occurrence. Many finally failed to enter at all.
“At the girls’ toilet, only 1 toilet was open and the attendant at the toilet door took 200 EGP to enter”
For those who made it into the site, the issues didn’t stop at the gate. The venue’s payment system proved to be erratic, with top-up stations suffering protracted wait times before totally collapsing and staff members having to move to cash-only operations quickly. The beverage service was also poor; alcohol supplies ran totally empty by midnight, leaving many attendees disappointed and parched.
The facility has equally serious problems. Many parts of the venue suffered from poor lighting, which created hazardous mobility conditions. Reports of unofficial bathroom attendants asking for fees ranging from 150 to 200 EGPs for admittance led to especially severe circumstances in the bathroom. In other places, only one toilet stayed operational despite several facilities being constructed, resulting in unclean conditions and unworkable lines. With music totally stopping for thirty to forty minutes during the event and crowding making it almost impossible for guests to walk freely or appreciate what music was playing, the sound system also suffered major disturbances.
@moetgriffithsPyramids are cool & djs were sick tho #circolocoegypt #giza #gizapyramids #circoloco #circolocogiza #fyp
Circoloco explained the situation
Circoloco addressed the situation through an Instagram story with the following statement
CIRCOLOCO pyramids we sincerely apologize to those who were unable to access the event last night. despite everyone’s best efforts, we faced an overwhelming challenge with thousands of non-ticket buyers and fake tickets attempting to gain entry. this created significant strain on security and police, who worked tirelessly to manage the situation, which was beyond anyone’s control. for those who could not enter or have any pending balance, we are offering a refunds. to begin the process please contact: [email protected] we deeply regret the inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding as we investigate these issues further.
CIRCOLOCO addressing the situation at Giza party
An Instagram account collecting all the complaints has been created.
The post Chaos at the Pyramids: Circoloco Cairo Descends into Turmoil appeared first on The Groove Cartel.
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