Two stages. How does it work?

for most of the festival, i think i would just stake out a place in the morning and stick with it. as long as you are fairly central, you should have no problem seeing both stages. i dont remember anything about not being able to cross up front because of cables. back at or behind (i cant remember that well) there was another big ol' set up of speakers. so even if you were chillin near the back, the sound was fantastic.

Last year there was a lot of moving back and forth, but being a little further back, I enjoyed the show with our group in one spot. I moved closer to the stages for dancing etc, but mostly enjoyed the sights/sounds from the middle back.

I would think of it more like one large stage that has been subdivided into two stages (as that is basically what it is).

The sound will come out of all of the speakers, regardless of which stage is in use.

There is only one soundboard.

Like many large stages, there's a barricade running from the stage to the soundboard. So you're partially correct - in front of the board you can't move from side to side. Behind the board, however, it is a normal concert field. I often jumped from side to side, took me all of 30 seconds.

Even in front of the soundboard, you still had a decent view of the stage opposite your side.

The setup is generally awesome and I enjoyed it thoroughly last year.

Last year you could not cross back and forth in front of the soundboard. There was a lane in the middle to protect the cables and also used for EMT's in case they were needed. The first two days I kept switching sides but kept ending up further back in the crowd each time I moved. By the third night I just stayed put towards the middle of the Ridge stage and I could see just fine when the bands played on the Oak stage. I thought I read somewhere that the middle lane was going to be accessible for VIP's this year. 

I like to figure out which side the acts I care more about are on and just camp out there for the whole day.

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If you like being in the first 100 feet then you gotta move all day, and that gets tougher as the day goes on. I picked a spot further in the back where I had a good view of both stages, plus I didn't have to say excuse me 987 times just to leave for a minute and get a beer.

I would start the day as close as I could get without being smooshed. Got really close both days to see the Black Crowes each day, as it got later in the day I would just gradually move back so I had enough room, but sundown I was back where I could see both stages without having to move. Sound was fantastic.

i'll gladly trade you my panic spot for your petty/allman spot

Definite trade for Petty (I already have audio files for the hits), but I would be satisfied with a good spot for either Panic or the Allmans. Those two and Sam Bush sold my ticket (amidst the rest of the great lineup, of course).

I have a question:

This year's map shows the two stages at a slight angle, facing towards each other. Moreover, it makes it look like the two stages are not actually attached to one another. However, my experience last year was that it was really just one giant stage - Oak and Ridge didn't appear to be angled towards each other. Maybe I'm just over-analyzing it. Thoughts?

Maybe just maybe this is to allow better sound and sight-lines in order for acts to be able to genuinely overlap and jam together.  We can hope...

Oh how I loathe thee jumbotron.