‘Race against time’: Tomorrowland update

Tomorrowland organisers have revealed their grand plan as they rush to open the festival gates after the Mainstage went up in flames.

Tomorrowland organisers revealed it is now a “race against time” to build a substitute stage after the music festival’s mainstage caught fire on Wednesday.

Just days before the popular annual electronic dance event was due to kick off in Belgium, dramatic footage showed its elaborate “Orbyz Mainstage” up in flames.

In a statement issued on Thursday, organisers said hundreds of people are still working tirelessly to ensure the festival gates can open on Friday.

“It’s a race against time, but we’re doing this together with the best and most amazing people in the world,” the statement read.

“What we can confirm is that we will be able to welcome everyone tomorrow (Friday).”

The organisers explained they have two scenarios in place for the 400,000 people expected over July 18-20 and July 25-27.

“If the mainstage area can be secured and a new setup completed, the festival grounds will open as planned for all visitors and ticket types,” they said.

Wild footage shows Tomorrowland mainstage up in flames. Picture: Belga Mag/Belga via AFP

However, they said if they’re unable to open at full visitor capacity, DreamVille and the festival grounds will function as two separate areas on Friday, “to ensure the safety of all guests”.

“In this case, The Gathering Stage at DreamVille will host the Mainstage artists originally scheduled for Friday,” they explained.

Devastated event organisers said the Orbyz Mainstage wasn’t ‘just a stage’, it was a ‘living, breathing world’. Picture: Jonas Roosens/Belga Mag/Belga via AFP

“DreamVille visitors will not be able to access the festival grounds (and) the festival grounds (without the mainstage) will open to all other visitors.”

In both scenarios, doors will open at 2pm and not 12pm.

Smoke from the fire at the Tomorrowland festival is seen in Brussels on Wednesday, July 16. Picture: Morgan Hermans via AP

“Even in these challenging times, we will be able to offer a program for all visitors and ticket types,” the statement continued.

“Starting Saturday, we expect the full festival grounds to open to all visitors and all ticket types from 12pm onwards. We will unite.”

Organisers said they are “still devastated” but the support they’ve received has been “truly heartwarming”.

Artists such as Meduza, Axwell, Vini Vici and Martin Garrix, were scheduled to perform on the mainstage.

In a separate statement, they said it’s “impossible to put into words what they’re feeling”, explaining The Orbyz Mainstage wasn’t “just a stage”.

“It was a living, breathing world,” they said.

“From the very first sketch on a blank page, to countless ours of conceptual design, artistic, collaboration, engineering, building, every single piece of Orbyz, carried apart of our soul.

“But we hold onto the magic Orbyz gave us. To the dreams it carried. To the team who gave their all.”

Artists such as Meduza, Axwell, Vini Vici and Martin Garrix, were scheduled to perform on the Mainstage.

“You have probably seen what happened to the Tomorrowland Main Stage,” Matt, who makes up the Meduza trio said in an Instagram story on Thursday.

“We are in contact with them directly so I am glad to say everybody is safe there – and that’s the most important thing to be honest.”