Coachella doubling the fun? Or devaluing the fun? Next year’s fest will run 2 weekends with same lineup

Kevin Bronson on
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So much for once-in-a-lifetime experiences, I guess.

Coachella organizers announced today that the 2012 festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio will be a two-weekend affair (April 13-15 and April 20-22) – with the same lineup each weekend. “Festival organizers will attempt to produce two identical festival weekends – same lineup, same art, same place, different people,” the press release says.

Two immediate reactions: This is bad because it devalues the uniqueness of seeing a band at Coachella, and it’s a blatant money grab. This is good because it will allow Coachella (and, I assume the bands) to make more money without raising ticket prices, and it will allow more fans to see an ostensibly amazing lineup.

What do you think? Anyone immediately tempted to go both weekends?

After the jump, ticket info, from the press release:

Weekend passes go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday until the following Friday (June 10). This advance sale will be the only opportunity to take advantage of the Coachella Payment Plan. Passes will be available through a payment plan of 10% down and 8 equal monthly payments or by payment in full. The price of three-day passes remains at $269 plus fees for the sixth consecutive year.