Ulster Grand Prix 2011

[JimmyC]

The admission charge for next year's Ulster Grand Prix will be increased by £10 to £25 as organisers struggle with a "serious financial shortfall".

The Dundrod and District Motorcycle Club said that the shortfall was caused by many spectators avoiding paying the admission fee for the event.

Even with outside funding, the road race meeting in August this year cost the Dundrod Club £409,000.

"To break even the admission charge must increase," it added.

"We have suffered a serious financial shortfall, which we are struggling with but will overcome.

"The issue is that many spectators avoided paying the £15 admission charge, in fact, there were more paying spectators in 2007 and 2009.

"It could be said that the world of road racing will always have an issue with funding - the club would like to change that.

"This is not a decision that we have arrived at lightly and we hope that true road racing fans will understand the reasons for this decision and continue to support us."

 

[shuck raider]

"The issue is that many spectators avoided paying the £15 admission charge, in fact, there were more paying spectators in 2007 and 2009.

Sure isn't it a national pastime Jimmy

Yer man Mick McCann from the Banks of the Bann will always be lookin' something for nothing, it's genetically programmed into the Norn Irish.

And then they'll be the first boys to complain when it all goes on its arse

 

[jonnie comet]

I've not done this race, but I am looking at doing it next year....Please could you educate me.....

How does 'avoid payment' work? ....Long rural track/jumping over fences etc?......

I have no problem at all with paying £25.00 to watch the races. Can I assume that spectators are catered for?.....Are there banked viewing areas where you don't have to stand ten deep to see a 'bike? Can you turn up, pay and guarantee to see plenty of racing action, without paying for some sort of grandstand seat? If you can, then it's all worth 25 quid....If not, then who knows?

 

[Stryder]

A fair price for a fair days entertainment

So here's a radical thought.

Instead of whacking up the price even more, would you not be more tempted to go and pay (and consequently less inclined to jump barbed wire fences) if the price actually went down by a few quid?

How many more people would attend (and pay) if the price was more attractive?

There's gotta be some empirical evidence out there to suggest that this might just be less crazy than it sounds?

Answers on a postcard please.

 

[davidgibson999]

So here's a radical thought.

Instead of whacking up the price even more, would you not be more tempted to go and pay (and consequently less inclined to jump barbed wire fences) if the price actually went down by a few quid?

How many more people would attend (and pay) if the price was more attractive?

There's gotta be some empirical evidence out there to suggest that this might just be less crazy than it sounds?

Answers on a postcard please.

I think this makes sense!
I'll not pay £25 for UGP...

 

[gs1150]

having marshalled at the UGP I can see both sides of the argument. for £25 i'd get the highlights dvd and watch it as many times as possible. i paid my subs this year for it and still have the programme.......i even got the paddock pass and yep that was worth it. meeting archibald, farquhar and the usual suspects again.

the Dundrod & District lost out financially money two years ago due to the torrential rain and i made the trip up from london to find no race on!

and the insurance for these events im sure does not come cheap.......