Oktoberfest tents: Restaurateur reports harassment after Wiesn lawsuit

Gastronomer Alexander Egger reports facing harassment and threats following his lawsuit against the allocation of festival tents at Munich's Oktoberfest. Egger stated that the situation has escalated beyond his expectations, impacting not only himself but also his family, employees, and suppliers. Consequently, he has decided not to operate his "Münchner Stubn" tent this year, prioritizing safety.

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The excitement has reached a level I could never have imagined, and it also concerns people's safety.

Egger's legal challenge centers on the distribution of two major Oktoberfest tents, the Schottenhamel and Paulaner-Festzelt, arguing that the process should adhere to European public procurement regulations. While an urgent application was previously unsuccessful, the main legal proceedings are scheduled for September. This timing means the lawsuit will not influence the setup or operation of this year's festival.

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This hurts us, of course, especially because of our great team and our guests - but safety comes first.

The dispute has caused significant disruption, with initial fears that the tent construction might be delayed. Egger explained his motivations for pursuing legal action, pointing to what he perceives as a "wide range of interpretational possibilities" in the scoring system used during the allocation process. He has observed inconsistencies in past applications that he claims were never adequately explained.

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There is a 'wide range of interpretational possibilities' in the evaluation options.

Addressing concerns that a European tender process might alter the traditional Oktoberfest character, Egger dismissed such fears as "complete nonsense." He argued that the festival's international nature is already evident, citing the ownership structures of local breweries. Egger believes that a public tender could still allow the city to dictate beer choices and maintain control over food offerings, preventing traditional Bavarian fare from being displaced by international options. He emphasized that competition, driven by a transparent process, ultimately benefits the festival by enhancing its offerings.

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The targeted fear-mongering about Kölsch and Guinness at the Wiesn is complete nonsense.