Sonisphere 2010

Rock Royalty Summary

Rock Royalty Backstage Area

This area will include somewhere to sit down and relax during the festival. There will be cash bar and food stalls available, which will be for the exclusive use of Rock Royalty customers and as such will have shorter queues. There will also be a Rock Disco that will continue on until the early hours after the main stage finishes exclusively to Rock Royalty customers of the festival who want to keep going.

Rock Royalty Shuttle

There will be two types of shuttle bus running for Rock Royalty customers cross the weekend. The first service will be running to and from the main Shuttle drop off / pick up point within the festival site. Timetables will be made available closer to the time. The second service will be for the hotel customers. This will have four pick up times in the morning and four drop off times at night (two of which will be after the main headliner has finished). You will be asked to show your Rock Royalty wristband to access this shuttle and please be aware that outside the running times of the shuttle you will need to arrange alternative transport. These times will be made available closer to the time for you.

Showers and Toilets

We have increased the number of toilets and showers available this year. As a Rock Royalty customer you be able to enjoy surprisingly clean loos and hot showers all weekend. Please remember that showers are most popular first thing in the morning.

Rock Royalty Staff

Our dedicated staff will be on hand at all times of the day and night to help. If you have any problems in the campsite please ask one of the staff who will assist you. They are easily identifiable by their t-shirts with "here to help" written on the back.

Getting There

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY AS DIRECTIONS TO THE ROCK ROYALTY ARE DIFFFERENT THAN FOR STANDARD TICKET HOLDERS

By Car

Directions: From A1(M) Come of at Junction 8 and follow signs down Old Hitchin Lane for the Sonisphere Rock Royalty. Please refer to the map on the back of your car parking pass. Do NOT come off with the rest of the festival traffic at Junction 7 as you will be on the wrong side of the site unable to access Rock Royalty from there.

By Train
The nearest rail station is Stevenage, two miles away. There is a taxi rank at the station. Non stop Inter-City and local services run to Stevenage from London Kings Cross Station around every 30 minutes. Plus, there are frequent Inter-City connections on the East Coast main line to Cambridge, York, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh and many other destinations.

Please note that there will be NO festival access from Knebworth Train Station. You must use Stevenage station.

It is STRONGLY recommended that return train tickets are bought in advance. Stevenage is on a very busy commuter line and has narrow platforms so it will not be possible for festival goers to gain access to the station till after 9.30am once the commuter traffic has died down.

There will be a dedicated ROCK ROYALTY SHUTTLE running from the main shuttle pick up / drop off point on the festival site to the Rock Royalty registration desk. The shuttles will run from 10am daily until the last train has left Stevenage each evening. Please refer to the shuttle bus timetable which you will be sent with your tickets a couple of weeks before the event.

Taxis
There will be a taxi rank at the main entrance to the festival and there is a taxi rank outside Stevenage station. They are inexpensive and cost around £8 from the station. Please make sure if you get a taxi from the station to the festival that you ask them to come off at Junction 8 and follow signs to the Rock Royalty entrance. It is a long walk if you end up at the wrong entrance!!

By Air
Knebworth is in close proximity to all of the main London airports: Heathrow (30 miles), Stansted (25 miles), Gatwick (75 miles) and Luton (12 miles). From Luton there are train links to London Kings Cross which has a direct train link to Stevenage.

Rock Royalty FAQs

How do I book my VIP package?
You can go online to www.sonispherefestivals.co.uk and book through the online Rock Royalty booking form, alternatively you can call our VIP hotline on 0207 399 7077, if you do not get through at first please leave a message with your telephone number and suitable time for us to call you and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
What do I need to book?
You will need to decide which package you want, whether you need a car parking pass and have your credit or debit card details to hand. Please note Gigantic is the official ticket agent that process all our bookings so the money will be debited from your account in that name and if you have any problems regarding the delivery of the tickets or to wish to check a booking you should contact them via customerservices@gigantic.com or on 0115 959 7908.
How many tickets do the packages include?
Each package details how many people the package is for. Hotel packages include two tickets and are not available for single ticket holders.
When will I get my tickets?
Tickets will be sent out in the month before the event, this is to help prevent re-sale and fraud, if you have not received your tickets one week before the event please contact Gigantic ticket agent on 0115 959 7908.
Can I purchase a locker with my Rock Royalty Package?
Yes, the lockers are situated in the arena and cost £10. You can add this on to any Rock Royalty package if you wish. They are big enough to hold a wallet and phone and have a car style charging socket in them. You can bring your own chargers or purchase them on site. More information is available in the lockers section.
Can I purchase a Rock Royalty ticket as an upgrade on a normal ticket?
If you want to upgrade to a Rock Royalty package then please call the VIP hotline on 0207 399 7077 and we can arrange for this subject to availability.
Is parking included in the price?
YES! The price you see includes everything for the weekend, no add-ons.
Can a child come for free on a Rock Royalty package?
As long as the child will stay within the arranged accommodation then they are entitled to come for free. This means if you book a ready made tent for two the child must sleep within the tent as well as the two people paid for within the package. You will need to bring proof of age with you on the day of arrival and they will be given a wristband at the Rock Royalty reception, they do not need a ticket. Over 12s are full price.
Is Rock Royalty suitable for special needs customers?
Our packages are designed with comfort and ease in mind and as such are suitable for those with special requirements and we are happy to try and accommodate any specific needs. If you require accessible bathroom facilities then we do recommend camping in the accessible campsite. Please call our dedicated Accessibility hotline and they will be happy to help you book and make sure that Rock Royalty is right for you. We do offer ready made tents and Pod pads in the special needs campsite and purchasing this will be arranged on a case by case basis. All accessibility packages include a free carer option to those with special needs; Within the Rock Royalty campsite this will constitute the Rock Royalty package price minus the price of a standard weekend ticket.
What can I bring onto the Rock Royalty campsite?
The same restrictions apply to the Rock Royalty campsite that applies to the rest of the site. Please refer to the "what can I bring" section on the main information page.
Is the Rock Royalty campsite quiet?
The campsite is generally speaking a bit quieter than the main campsites due to the reduced number of people and its sheltered position. It is still a festival however and noise is unavoidable.
Can I pay just for the Rock Royalty bar but not camping?
Our packages are designed to be a complete festival experience and therefore we only offer access to the bar as part of a package.
Can we drive in and out of the Rock Royalty campsite during the festival?
Yes you will be able to move your car between 8am and 8pm, but we do request that you let a steward know that you wish to move your car if it is parked next to your tent. These precautions are to ensure that safety of all customers in the campsite. Please also respect the 5mph speed limit on the campsite. If you are staying in a hotel there will be a VIP car park and you are welcome to drive in and park up for the day and leave at your convenience.
Can Rock Royalty customers go into normal camping?
Yes, customers are welcome to go and visit their friends in the normal camping field from Thursday at 5pm when Bohemia and the arena opens. You will not however be able to carry alcohol across the arena. If you want to take alcohol to the normal campsite you will have to follow the lit path running around the outside of the arena. Ask a steward if you are unsure where it is.
Can I camp from the Thursday?
Yes all Rock Royalty customers are entitled to early entry. We ask that you let us know what day you intend to arrive when booking so we know how many to expect. If you are unsure do not worry, it is just an useful indication.
What if I have questions?
If you have any questions or would like any assistance please don't hesitate to call our booking line on 0208 399 7077. Alternatively please email sonispherefestivals@kililive.com with your enquiry and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

General FAQs

Apart from "can you get me tickets for [insert name of long sold out gig here]?", these are the things we get asked most often. If you've got a problem or a question we haven't covered here, please email customerservices@gigantic.com and we'll put our thinking heads on.

How can I tell if my booking went through OK?

You'll get on screen confirmation with a unique reference number. We will also send a confirmation email to the address you provide. This is pretty much instant. If you don't receive your email, please see below...

I haven't received my confirmation email?

It happens sometimes. The major ISPs (Internet Service Providers), and web-based email providers such as hotmail, work very hard to save us all from torrents of spam. Unfortunately this means that they don't always handle legitimate, automated emails correctly. If you don't see your confirmation email in your inbox, first check that it hasn't been filtered into a spam or junk email folder. If it has, you can usually tell your email client not to do it again!

If you can't see it anywhere after about 5 or 10 minutes, please let us know, quoting the reference number from your on screen confirmation. We can easily resend your confirmation so that it will come through to you.

Why is my order not going through?

If after entering your details and clicking "Buy Tickets" you are returned to the order form, scroll down to see what has happened. You may have just missed something out or entered it incorrectly. There is no need to start your booking again from scratch, just check all the details you have entered carefully, then submit your order again. We have compiled a check list below of the most common reasons why orders fail, in most cases it will be for one of the reasons below.

The address you provide MUST be the address that your CARD is registered to (ie the address where statements are sent), including the full postcode where applicable. If you have recently moved, or are a student with a term time and home address, please consider where the card itself is currently registered.

If you have a UK postcode beginning "CR0" or ending "0XX", please note that the "0" in either case should be entered as a zero, rather than the letter "O".

If your order is being rejected on postcode, please DON'T submit the same postcode over and over again - this won't work! You will need to contact your card issuer to ensure that they have your postcode recorded correctly. Sometimes card issuers hold incorrect or out of date details (20 years out of date is the record so far).

If your card has a start date or valid from date, or an issue number, please enter these as they are required for some types of card.

If you are using a wheel mouse, please check that the expiry date and start date are correct before you click the button, as these can inadvertently be altered when scrolling down with the wheel.

Please double check the CVS number (the last 3 digits from the signature strip on the back). This is typically changed when a new card is issued, so if you have recently received a new card please check that you are entering the correct number.

If you are still having problems and can't see why, please contact us and we will try to help.

When will I get my tickets?

This varies from event to event. We don't always get the tickets into our office until quite close to the show. If you haven't received your tickets 10 days prior to the event, please read on to the next answer.

We use Royal Mail for delivered tickets, and irreplaceable tickets are sent by Royal Mail Special Delivery, as indicated during your booking. If you are not at home when Special Delivery tickets arrive, you will be left a card and can normally pick them up from your local sorting office.

What if I don't have my tickets, and it's less than 10 days to the event?

Firstly, are you sure your tickets are being posted? It may be that your order is a Box Office Collection - you can check this on your confirmation email.

If your tickets are being posted and you haven't received them 10 days prior to the event, please contact us with your reference number and we will chase it up for you. Please DON'T leave it until the last minute to get in touch. It's important to contact us at least two working days before the show, so that we can contact all the parties involved on your behalf.

What if my tickets are lost, stolen, damaged or subject to some other calamity?

Before answering that, a gentle reminder to always treat tickets as you would cash. Unfortunately, venue or promoter rules mean that some tickets just can't be replaced. Oh - and tickets are often printed on heat sensitive paper, so please be careful where you leave them!

If the worst has happened, please contact us, quoting your reference number. If it's possible, we will make alternative arrangements to get you into the event, which usually means duplicate tickets being made available at the venue. Please DON'T leave it until the last minute to get in touch. It's important to contact us at least two working days before the show, so that we can contact all the parties involved on your behalf.

I want to book for something this week! Will you post my tickets?

If it's too late to get tickets to you by post, for most events we can offer Box Office Collection (see below).

I live outside the UK. Will you post my tickets?

Wherever possible, we arrange Box Office Collection for our customers from outside the UK.

How do I contact Gigantic customer services?

The best way is by email, customerservices@gigantic.com. Or see our contact page.

How do I collect my tickets at the venue? Can someone else pick them up for me?

Box Office Collection means tickets will be waiting for you at the venue, usually an hour or so before the show starts. Sorry but for security, tickets can only be issued to the card holder, and you will need to take the card you booked with and your reference number when you pick your tickets up.

What should I include in a 'letter of authorisation'?

If you have been told by us that you will need to take a letter of authorisation with you to a show to collect your tickets, you will need to bring with you a formal letter of authorisation from the card holder and some ID. This formal letter should look like this:

Your Address
Sometown
EX4 MPLE

20 March 2010

To whom it may concern,

I, [your name], authorise [their name] to collect the [event name] tickets on my behalf.

The confirmation number is [reference number], the last four digits of my card number are [last 4 digits], the issue number is [issue number] and the order was placed on [order date].

Yours faithfully,

[sign here]

[your name]

This is a legal document designed to protect you from fraudulent use of your card, therefore, a poorly scribbled note on a scrap of paper will not suffice. TICKETS WILL NOT BE RELEASED TO YOU WITHOUT THIS. A letter of authorisation is only applicable if we have instructed you to that it is necessary.

How do I get my tickets sent to a new or different address?

We've thought of that, it's one for customerservices@gigantic.com. If you are moving, please let us know.

I have been sent the wrong tickets or the wrong number of tickets.

D'oh! Please always check your tickets as soon as they arrive so we can try to sort out any problems. If anything seems to be wrong, please contact customerservices@gigantic.com straight away.

What are your terms and conditions? Can I see them?

Yes, they're all here.

What credit or debit cards do you accept?
The cards we accept

We take Visa, Visa Debit, Electron, MasterCard, Maestro, Solo and JCB cards. Sorry, we don't do Amex or Diners.

Can I pay by any other method?

Sorry, we can't take cash or cheque payments.

How will my booking show up on my statement?

We've recently updated our entry on statements to try and make it clearer what you have bought, unfortunately we don't get much space! This is how it appears now:

Gigantic.com tkts
0115 9597908

If you booked before 11 March 2008 it will look like this:

www.gigantic.com
0115 9597908
Why do you charge a booking fee?

Contrary to popular belief, in general a ticket agent doesn't take a "cut" of the face value. This is what we pay for the ticket. The booking fee is what we charge to make it all happen: processing your order, sorting out any problems, keeping the website fired up, the whole nine yards.

What do Gigantic do to combat fraud?

Obviously we're not going to give away all the details here! Suffice to say that we are using state of the art technology to protect us, and you, from fraud. Sometimes we will ask customers to provide us with additional information to confirm that they have authorised a ticket purchase. Please don't be offended if this happens.

Is your site secure?

Yes, we use 128-bit SSL encryption, the highest standard in common use. We use a thawte Digital Certificate, and our order form carries the thawte Trusted Site Seal, which you can click on for visible, real-time assurance that our site is protected by one of the most trusted digital certificate providers on the Web.

I've never heard of Gigantic. Are you a proper ticket agency?

Yes we are. We launched in April 2007, since which time we've had the pleasure of getting tens of thousands of you into gigs up and down the country. We work with many of the big promoters and venues, as well as providing ticketing services to household names such as AOL, Absolute Radio and the Co-operative.

All our tickets are sourced directly from promoters and venues. We are not an auction site, and you won't find us selling tickets at ten times their face value. Check out our contact us page, and you'll see that we don't hide behind a PO Box number or a non-geographic phone number, and all our company and VAT registration details are there.

How come you still have tickets when they are sold out elsewhere?

It's not unusual for different vendors to sell out at different times. This means that sometimes we will have tickets available that are sold out elsewhere. If this is the case, it's usually a good idea to book without delay. Chances are there will be other people looking for the same tickets, and they may be the last we have.

I've found a bug, what should I do?

Please tell us! We've tested our site using the most common platforms and browsers, but there are so many different combinations out there it's impossible to test them all. If you spot something that's not working properly, or just looks plain odd, let us know so we can try to fix it. Please email it@gigantic.com and give us as much detail as you can. Information that will help us (if you know it) includes...

  • whether you are on a PC, a Mac or something else
  • your operating system
  • your browser type and version

If you can send us a screen shot all the better!

We really appreciate your input in helping to make the site better for everyone.