Look like recent terror attacks and the increased security has driven down attendance. Just two weeks before opening day I noticed several rooms available at MotelOne and other hotels which was very surprising.
https://www.thelocal.de/20161004/oktoberfest-sees-lowest-number-of-visitors-in-15-years
Stuttgart Volksfest pulled in more visitors than Oktoberfest this year!
Here is to hoping they get the security issues sorted before next year.
DJ
Might be the €10 beers had something to do with it too.
I actually attended both this year, each on the Monday after Opening Weekend, there were plenty of people to have a good time, but being able to get into tents and have a beer was a big plus, in the afternoon, you probably could have gotten a seat in about any tent.
Security was not really much of a delay, at Oktoberfest, you could not bring in bags, so they just had security people spread out at the entrances, some handheld metal scanners, and just watched or checked as people entered. Volksfest they allowed bags, however some tents did not, and they did not open lockers until 5:00 PM.
Overall, still a great time, maybe better without the overwhelming crowds.
Also the weather on the first weekend was really awful, which damaged attendance.
