Ticket Sales, Buildings Going Up
Horse Park Getting Ready for Opening of Games in a Month
315,000 Tickets Sold
300 Temporary Structures at the Horse Park
58 Countries with nominated athletes
101 Riders nominated from the United States
25,000 Seats in Main Arena
With just 30 days left until the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, organizers say that ticket sales are up, along with about 300 temporary structures throughout the Kentucky Horse Park.
"Things are really beginning to take shape," said James Link, chief executive officer of the World Games 2010 Foundation.
Link announced that two events - dressage freestyle and individual reining - have almost sold out. The best seats for the dressage freestyle competition are gone, and the lower tier of the main stadium has fewer than 1,000 tickets remaining. Dressage will be held in the main stadium, which will seat 25,000 poeple.
In addition, the individual reining finals have fewer than 150 tickets left in the indoor atena, which seats 7,000.
Overall ticket sales are approaching 315,000 for competition event and ground passes. Link said his goal is overall sales of 500,000. The original goal was 600,000. A separate ticket must be bought for each competitive event. General admission tickets allow access to the Horse Park and some cross-country competitions.
Some of the more expensive tickets are selling well. The Championship Club, which allows access to tables of eight set up in the stands of the park's main arena or the driving stadium, have sold out for show jumping events at prices reaching $49, 600 for two days. In addition, luxury boxes that can cost as much as $36,500 for four days in the indoor arena are sold out during some reining events.
Link also addressed the issue of parking. Originally, a shuttle service was going to drop off people at the main gates after they parked at Coldstream Research Park on Newtown Pike. Now attendees will park at a farm next to the Horse Park and walk into the park.
(Editor's Note: In actuality the farm (Spycoast) is next to the Campground NOT next to the Horse Park itself.)
Walk From Parking Area to Be LessThan A Mile
(Editor's Note: WOW! Is there any more good news?)
Link said that walk will be less than 8/10 of a mile. (Editor's Note: That is to the Camp Ground entrance to the Horse Park. The main arena is 3/10 of a mile further and the Indoor Arena is more than a mile further.)
"We will be providing shuttles to help people who need assistance," he said, "It's not as far as some people have projected it to be."
First lady Jane Beshear, who is on the foundation board and is an ardent equestrian, said the board had heard concerns about parking and "we're working on solutions to relieve that concern."
Wednesday's press conference was against a backdrop of pointed white tents, as the facilities for events other than competitions take shape. The Alltech Experience, put on by the Games' title sponsor, will cover four acres, and the Kentucky Experience is 25,000 square feet of four pavilions that will feature food, products, live music and an introduction to Kentucky's nine tourism regions.
Pearse Lyons, the president of Alltech, said the Games have ensured that "the world is looking at us in a totally differnt way."
The Games will begin on Sept. 25 and continue through Oct. 10. Ffty-eight countries have nominated horses and riders to compete in eight disciplines, For more information go to Alltechfeigames.com.
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