Canceling Oktoberfest? A Marketer's Response

So I've heard that our friends in Deutschland are getting a little carried away, and have chosen to cancel Wiesn 2020, as an offical response to COVID-19. The attached article details the decision: https://www.dw.com/en/oktoberfest-in-germany-canceled-due-to-coronavirus-outbreak/a-53142998

My takeaway is that this is an over-reaction to the virus, that Oktoberfest can still go on, albeit in a different format. As a marketing strategist who has weathered many seasons of change, I believe Oktoberfest can still happen, and that we, along with our dear, resourceful Germans, will be able to shout a "Prost!" starting in mid-September. 

Though a communal tent would cross the line amidst the coronavirus pandemic, here is my proposal, in order to keep the bier flowing and Blaskapelle playing: 

1. Create several mail order versions of "Oktoberfest at Home." What would this look like? Thinking of how Texans consume barbecue, there would be an individual kit, a small group kit (five people or less), and a large group kit(serves around 12). Each kit would contain the appropriate liters of bier, the appropriate number of mass mugs, bake-at-home pretzels, and souvenirs.
2. Wiesenbekanntschaft. Build a massive, online portal where registrants across the globe can sign up and rent virtual bier tents. Each tent will have its own vibe, its own live-streaming Blaskapelle, be led and hosted by several Bavarian kellnerin, and so on... you get the idea.
3. Hire local hosts in every global city that wants to have its own virtual Oktoberfest. These hosts are the local points-of-contact between Bavaria and the local registered participants. The host will help coordinate the virtual bier tents, troubleshoot any mistimed or non-delivered Oktoberfest kits, and ensure all of the local participants are having a grand time so that everyone gets to experience gemütlichkeit.
4. Glücklich Wiesn!

On a serious note; to any beer companies, party planners, and any good-natured enterprise that wants to be strategic in its product management: I am currently available for marketing and corporate strategy work. Please let me know if you think these ideas will work, because it's not over 'til it's over (or "Das Ende der Fahnenstange ist noch nicht erreicht").

This post originally appeared on dungeblog.