We’ve worked hard to ensure TANKFEST 2021 is safe for visitors and staff, while ensuring the experience does not suffer.
Although there will be fewer visitors, we wanted to make sure the programme was better than ever. This included making two new “stages”, adding another day to the event, and improving the arena displays. Find out all about it below!
EVENT CAPACITY & SOCIAL DISTANCING
Arena capacity is the key to the overall TANKFEST capacity.
It currently stands at 2,500 (following a project to increase the usable space over the winter) allowing for a 1-metre gap between each standing ticket holder.
This means that the total number of visitors we can allow for TANKFEST is currently 5,000 each day – less than half of that permitted at the last TANKFEST event.
It also means that we are unable to offer Grandstand seating this year.
A DAY OF TWO HALVES – MANAGING THE CROWDS
We are dramatically revamping our arena display to make it more intense, concentrated and action-packed.
We’re planning to add more drama and spectacle; minimising the gaps and pauses to create a single stream of high-quality tank action.
This allows us to run an identical arena show twice in one day – giving us an opportunity to split the attending audience between each ‘show’.
On the Friday and Monday, visitors will be able to watch “Tank Chats Live” in the arena, where they can hear experts talking in-depth about different vehicles in the arena. On Saturday and Sunday, guests can see tanks roar round in the arena in a variety of different displays and battles, with the assistance of History in the Making and the British Army. See the full programme here.
So, when you book your ticket, you’ll be asked to book an AM or PM Arena slot.
When you arrive at TANKFEST, you’ll be issued with the appropriate wristband to enable you access to the arena spectator’s area for your chosen show session. To maintain social distancing and ensure everyone gets a good view, you will be given a coloured wristband corresponding to an area of the Kuwait Arena.
You can spend the remainder (or earlier part) of you visit enjoying The Tank Museum, lecture stage or mini arena.
We understand that this somewhat bureaucratic approach may jar with loyal TANKFEST visitors who are used to choosing to spend the whole day in the arena.
In the current circumstances, this approach appears to be the only practical solution that will allow us to sensibly plan our most important fundraising event of the year – and giving us a fighting chance of success.
MINI ARENA & LECTURE STAGE
This year we’ve introduced a lecture stage and mini-demonstration arena, where you can hear talks, live music and watch living history demonstrations close up.
Each of the four days has a jam-packed programme for both the mini arena and lecture stages, including live firing, music, talks on armoured cars, and expert talks.
In addition, TANKFEST guests will be able to visit the Tank Park between the arena displays, explore The Tank Museum with the new WW2: War Stories and World Tanks Gaming Zone, and see the Living History area.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE
We have all had a rough ride over the last year – but we at The Tank Museum are extremely grateful for your continued loyalty.
We have had to make a number of difficult decisions over the last 10 months, often at short notice and with limited information at hand.
Many reading this will have already had their tickets transferred from the intended June 2020 date to a date in September 2020 that we also had to cancel.
It is thanks to your support that we are still here – making it even more disappointing for us to be to letting you all down again.
