Country Thunder announces new ticket packages, changes to gopher run

More changes are coming for the music festival formerly known as Craven Country Jamboree.

After being rebranded as Country Thunder Saskatchewan in October, the country music festival is announcing new ticket options – and prices.

At noon on Thursday, Dec. 1, reserved seating and platinum experience tickets for the 2017 go-on sale.

Kim Blevins, the festival’s director of marketing, said the reserved seating is seating for the weekend. That upgrade will cost $425, including the cost of the ticket.

The platinum experience tickets are an “upgraded experience” that, for $600, include reserved seating, private washrooms, private bar and food access, contest opportunities and some meet and greet opportunities.

Blevins said they’re just answering the demands of festival goers.

“We’ve been asking people this for several years, if they’re interested in this. We wouldn’t mess with what we have going for us right now if we didn’t find a demand for it.”

These new options mean changes to the famous gopher run – the prime viewing area closest to the stage that had people lining up early in the morning, or camping out overnight, in past years.

While Blevins reassures people the gopher run will still exist, it will be pushed back several rows and lose 500 spots. But 2,500 people will still be able to get in.

“They’re not going to be able to get the front row seat unless they want to pay for it,” she said.

“If people want to sit up to get the front row behind the seating area, absolutely. That lineup will still happen overnight.”

These changes aren’t sitting well with many fans on social media.

@CCJsask This is like changing the fries at McDonald’s… don’t do it. Loyal Craven fans appreciate the reward & experience of #gopherrun

— linda maurer (@maurerRN) December 1, 2016