The management takeover by the City of Nice brings numerous changes to the ancestral Nice Jazz Festival. For the 2011 edition, not only the venue changes but also the organization. There’s novelty, yes, but the essence remains: an exceptional musical lineup to be discovered from July 8 to 12, 2011 at Jardins Albert Ier.
The most noticeable novelty, which has been much talked about, both positively and negatively, is the change of location. Gone are the arènes de Cimiez; now the Nice Jazz Festival is centered right in the heart of the city, at Jardins Albert Ier.
What you will see on-site
More than two stages compared to three in Cimiez. In 2011, you will find the Masséna stage and the Théâtre de Verdure stage with a capacity of 4,000 and 2,200 seats, respectively. That’s 2,000 more seats than in Cimiez.
Eco-friendly action by the City of Nice: 43 recycling bins will be scattered throughout the site and 17 on the outskirts of the event.
Another novelty: because it’s summer and the heat is overwhelming in Nice, four potable water points are open to everyone around the stages.
On the other hand, there are fewer options for drinking and dining. The City of Nice has put fried food stands and alcohol abundance on hold. Christian Estrosi, the Mayor of the city, announced a restriction of alcohol to just cider and beer. For those concerned, the socca stand is still present, and there will also be sandwiches, pizzas, and other delicacies.
Finally, a significant security service will be deployed to ensure the safety of festival-goers.
The ‘Extras’
A little bonus this year: tickets will allow their holders to use the tram for free to get to the venue. And the Ruhl Méridien, Grimaldi, and Gare Thiers parking lots will offer a special rate of 5.50 euros from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. As a reminder, in previous years, free shuttles had been set up to bring spectators to the festival location, in Cimiez.
With a noticeable increase in ticket sales compared to 2010 and a savings of 100,000 euros in personnel costs announced by the City Hall, the 2011 edition promises to be under a favorable outlook.
