From Horse & Hound July 22, 2100:
With More Than Half the Tickets Still Unsold for thie September's World Equestrian Games, Organizers are Slashing (some) prices by 30%
Ticket prices have been slashed at the Alltech World Equestrian Games (WEG) as organizers face up to attendance and cashflow crises with 65 (now 55) days to go.
Last week, WEG issued a defensive statement "busting the myths" about "extortionste" spectator costs. But within days, chief executive James Link admitted that only 270,000 of 600,000 tickets had been sold.
WEG (25 Septmber-10 October) is now offering a 30% discount on tickets bought by 6 September for endurance and early rounds of other events. partial refunds will not be offered on tickets already sold.
"While early projections were optomistic we recognize that with the downturn in the global economy, a complete sell-out may not be realistic," said Mr. Link.
"We are doing everything possible to react appropriately to market conditions and feedback we receive from around the world.
It will cost $300-$390 (L198-L252) to watch the three-day event, comparing unfavorably with four days at Badminton (L70 or L50 in advance, including a grandstand seat for showjumping).
But Mr. Link said that original prices had been "positively reviewed by global sources".
Rates Increased
Internet forums are also awash with grumbles about hotel rates - hoteliers have increased prices by as much as three times the norm.
And WEG recently introduced a daily $5 charge for previously free hotel shuttles, rocketing to $15 if bought after 15 Sptember.
It seems few British spectators will be travelling to the Kentucky Horse Park compared with previous US hosted globa events.
WEG Ticket Price Comparison:
Aachen 2006:
Dressage - Dearest Ticket E70 (L59)
Cheapest Ticket - E10 (L8.50)
Kentucky 2010:
Dressage - Dearest Ticket $140 (L92) (almost twice as expensive)
Cheapest Ticket $42
(almost four times more expensive)
Aachen 2006:
Show Jumping Dearest Ticket E160 (L136)
Cheapest
Ticket E10 (L8.50)
Kentucky 2010:
Show Jumping Dearest Ticket $130 (L85) (almost half as expensive)
Show Jumping Cheapest Ticket $42 (half day) (L27.50)
(almost four times as expensive)
Aachen 2006:
Reining Dearest
Ticket E40 (L34)
Cheapest Ticket E10 (L8.50)
Kentucky 2010:
Reining Dearest Ticket $120 (L78.50) (half day) (more than twice as expensive)
Cheapest Ticket $67 (half day) (L44)
(more than five times as expensive)
Aachen 2006:
Eventing Dearest Ticket
E40 (L34)
Cheapest Ticket E25 (L21)
Kentucky 2010:
Eventing Dearest Ticket $105 (L68.70) (half day) (more than twice as expensive and morning and afternoon are needed making it four times as expensive)
Cheapest Tickey $32 (half day (L21) same price; however morning and afternoon are needed making it twice as expensive
Editor's Note: American publications seem incapable of criticizing the WEG 2010 in particular the outrageously expensive tickets. This everything is beautiful attitude does not effect Horse & Hound!
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