Wristband technology 'may tempt' Glastonbury

Michael Eavis says it's 'an incredible system' but has reservations

Chris Eustace - 16 January 2012

As we reported yesterday, the RFID technology was used for the first time at Eurosonic Noorderslag in Groningen over the weekend.

Using technology similar to an Oyster card, they enable fans to scan in and out of venues, with organisers able to track the data.

Manufacturers Intellitix claim they could end ticket fraud and touting, and could also be used to buy goods on-site, with festival-goers able to load cash on the wristbands.

Eavis, who collected a lifetime achievement award at the European Festival Awards, which opened Eurosonic Noorderslag, admitted he "might be tempted" to use the technology in place of the festival’s current registration process, where festival-goers’ photos are included on their tickets.

Speaking to Radio 1’s Newsbeat, the Glastonbury organiser said: “It seems an incredible system. It does look as though it's something better than what we're doing at the moment.”

However, he had still some reservations: "All the commercial implications of the chip are slightly worrying aren't they?" he said. "I don't want to take people into a land they don't want to go into, and using information about people, I wouldn't be happy about that."

Glastonbury 2013 registration is open now. Michael Eavis also recently said all three headliners had already been booked for the festival.

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