The name Download was chosen for the festival for two reasons. Downloading was a dirty word in the music industry at the time, due to file sharing, and rock is seen as a rebelleous genre of music. The organisers faced pressure from the rest of the industry, with some even claiming that the Download Festival would "destroy the music industry". Also Download was to be a Monsters Of Rock for the 21st Century and the internet would provide connectivity with its audience.
The 2003 festival tickets had a code on them, which would allow festival goers to download tracks from bands which had played. Although this idea has been dropped in subsequent years, the festival organisers have nurtured an online community through the Festival Forums. Initially a sounding board for the fans (and critics) of the festival, the boards have become an integral part of the festival organisation with regular contributions from Festival Director John Probyn and Promotor Andy Copping. The forums also provide face to face feedback through the Fan Forum meetings (started in 2006) and organise the Boardie BBQ (2006 on) and the Boardie Takeover night (2009), football tournaments and a pub quiz for the R.I.P. campers who arrive on a Wednesday night.
When Download began, it took place on the Donington Park circuit infield as had Monsters Of Rock. However in 2008 developments for Formula One meant that the infield was no longer suitable as a festival site. 2008 saw a move to the "Sunday Markets" site to the west of the circuit. Although adequate, numbers were limited and the location of the campsite meant that getting from one's tent to the arena was quite a hike. 2009 saw the festival move to a much more suitable (and popular) location to the south of the circuit.
Buy Download Festival Tickets or Sell Download Festival Tickets through YourTicketMarket.com. One stop shop to catch your favouite event tickets like Download Festival Tickets. Download Festival Tickets are Guaranteed, Fast and Secure!
