ePlaya

Anyone know what was BRC's population this year?

Authorities say the 2009 installment of the annual Burning Man festival drew a smaller crowd to the Northern Nevada desert than in 2008.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management officials said that as of noon Saturday, 41,059 people were at the festival. Officials said the crowd peaked at 43,435 at noon Friday. The numbers are an 11 percent drop in attendance over 2008.

http://www.rgj.com/article/20090907/NEWS/909070339/1321

thanks for the article :)

I believe that would make it the first time in BM history the population dropped year-to-year. And the drop is quite significant (why only 11%, if population last year peaked at just shy of 50,000? that makes it more like 13%). Besides recession, any thoughts about the reasons for this?..

malchik wrote:I believe that would make it the first time in BM history the population dropped year-to-year. And the drop is quite significant (why only 11%, if population last year peaked at just shy of 50,000? that makes it more like 13%). Besides recession, any thoughts about the reasons for this?..

some over did/spent 2008, some had last min. heath issues, ie me, and money was a big facter..

health issues surely even out year-to-year.
last time dot-com bust in the early 2000s severely affected the bay area, the biggest source of BRC population, it still managed to stay flat (rose just a tiny bit), and then continued to rise significantly until 2008 burn...

malchik wrote:I believe that would make it the first time in BM history the population dropped year-to-year.

And thank Crom for that.

i didn't go this year which i believe had a big influence on others deciding not to go...

everyone saving for 2012 to do it right

money is the big factor. I camped next to the gate i heard that bell ring every min or so between weds night thru sat night so i am taking alot of new ppl showed up. I noticed regular burners (that I have talked to) said they are spacing out burns instead of every year like they used to. I dont plan on coming back until 2012 ........

unless i come into some money of course

I think money was surely a factor, but also 2008 I think was critical mass in terms of population and city size. The larger city and crappy playa conditions of last year turned off a lot of people.

Would have been there this year if just for the expenses.

I'd have to agree with others that think it's a combo of money and the shitty playa conditions of last year. It was dusty and hot last year (more so than I've seen), the windy drive made it crappy, you could hardly ride a bike and the city was so huge you needed a bike to get around. I had a good time but it was lesser than all other burns for me.