While awaiting the official numbers for the tenth edition of Red Valley, which took place last week at the Olbia Arena, Olbia is wondering about the event's future in the city: the agreement with the organizers of the festival, which originated in Arbatax, where it ran until 2022, expired this year, and rumors of the possible relocation of the Magma Events event elsewhere are making Olbia residents nervous, starting with Angelo Cocciu.
"As leader of the Forza Italia council group and a city councilor for the city of Olbia, I strongly and confidently reiterate that the Red Valley Festival must remain in Olbia, not only because it is a major musical event, but because it has profoundly impacted the cultural and tourism growth of my city and the whole of Sardinia," he stated in a press release issued recently.
"I can't forget that when the project was presented to Mayor Settimo Nizzi four years ago, he immediately had the clarity and political acumen to understand the magnitude of the proposal and to support it without hesitation. It is thanks to that vision, typical of a great mayor," Cocciu continues, "that Olbia has been able to host a festival that is now internationally renowned. Over its ten editions, four of which were hosted right here in Olbia, it has attracted hundreds of young people, artists, and professionals, transforming our city into a national hub for music and entertainment."
After thanking "Luca Usai, Sebastiano Pisciottu, Maurizio "Salmo" and Vittorio Beccu, the true creators and organizers of Red Valley, whose expertise and passion have allowed us to bring major international artists to Sardinia and record numbers, with 350,000 tickets sold in four years," Cocciu recalls the efforts he made as a regional councilor "to ensure this extraordinary event could take root in Olbia."
He continues: "Today, individual commitment is no longer enough. The Sardinia Region needs to do its part, and through Tourism Councilor Franco Cuccureddu, finally identify the resources needed to ensure stability and a future for an event that has already demonstrated its economic, social, and cultural value for the entire island." He concludes: "We know well that there are cities, in Sardinia and even beyond, ready to compete for the festival, but the truth is that Red Valley was born and raised here, and here it must stay, because Olbia—Cocciu emphasizes—welcomed it, supported it, and helped it grow, and it is what it is, because Mayor Nizzi saw its potential when few believed in it, and because today the numbers, the audience, and the history speak for themselves. This is why I firmly reiterate that Red Valley is not just a festival, but a piece of the identity of Olbia and Sardinia, and it is our duty to defend and support it."