The organizers of MetalDays, a prominent rock festival series, have announced its permanent closure

The organizers of MetalDays, a prominent rock festival series, have announced its permanent closure, attributing the decision to a series of financial difficulties that began with the Covid-19 pandemic.

MetalDays, known for drawing thousands of heavy metal enthusiasts to its scenic beachside location in Slovenia, debuted as MetalCamp in 2004. Despite its popularity, the festival`s organizers revealed that the 2022 edition was the last. They cited a combination of poor business decisions, the cancellation of last year’s event due to severe flooding, and the lingering impact of the pandemic as key factors in their decision to cease operations. Additionally, they apologized for issues such as unreturned refunds, unpaid bands, and unresolved production costs.

In response to criticism from those affected financially, the organizers disclosed that shareholders had taken out loans exceeding €500,000 over the past three years to try and secure the festival’s future. In a detailed explanation titled "The End," they mentioned attempts to sell the MetalDays brand to major promoters like Live Nation and Festival Republic, which ultimately did not materialize.

"This is the final goodbye to MetalDays," the organizers stated. "For us, MetalDays is now a cherished memory. When we return, it will be with something new and exciting, capable of setting a new trend. Most importantly, sufficient funds must be secured before the first ticket is sold.

"Until then, we wish you nothing but the best. We are at peace in our hearts and wish the same for all MetalDays supporters. As the saying goes, `when one door closes, another opens.`"

The festival`s troubles began in early 2020 with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2020 event was postponed, and over 10,000 tickets sold were rolled over to 2021. Despite having no savings and minimal support from the Slovenian government, the organizers decided to maintain their usual practices.

"Our judgment was wrong, and it was a mistake to continue our business affairs as if nothing had happened," the organizers admitted.

The 2021 edition was also canceled, leading to some redundancies, a loan, and cutbacks on expenses. Though the 2022 event sold out, it operated at a reduced capacity of just 7,000 attendees, about half of previous years. The event incurred losses, and many fans who requested refunds were still owed money. Plans for a new, larger venue in Tolmin were underway for 2023.

Despite promising pre-sales for 2023, the festival faced another setback when severe flooding forced the cancellation of the final two days of the event. This led to more refund demands and impacted bookings for 2024. Promised state aid also did not materialize, compounding the financial strain.

"We`re not looking for excuses," the organizers said. "Our goal is to present the last four MetalDays years and all significant events as they truly happened. We made mistakes that, even though they occurred during unprecedented times, should not have been made by promoters with our level of expertise — we had to know better. We had to think like businessmen when Covid-19 started and should have declared bankruptcy then.

"Pride, friendliness, and reliance on luck have no place in business. Many individuals and companies would not have been harmed if this decision had been made at the right time. We apologize to each one of them."

In their final remarks, they expressed deep regret for the unreturned refunds, unpaid bands, and unsettled production expenses. They acknowledged that while they now understand what should have been done differently, the pandemic and historic flooding presented challenges that were too great to overcome effectively at the time.

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