Badminton - Too Expensive? (Also in CR)

Firewell

Firewell

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I was shocked by the cost of tickets for Badminton today. I went with my OH in one car and my family went in another car. £58 to get in for me and my OH. £24 per person PLUS £10 for a car. The cost of 3 of my family members in another car came to over £80.

Does anyone else think that this is absolutly extortionate??

My OH and I spent £60 in petrol getting there and back so the day cost us £120 just to get there and get in. The fact that we can afford it isn't the point, I actually think that it's not worth it. It's sad because I know of people who used to go every year but they simply cannot afford to go anymore.

I know that a lot of effort/time/money gets put in to the event but at the end of the day I walked round a park in the rain. I barely got to see the horses that close as there was so many people round the more interesting fences. I had a good time but only because for that price I was determined to make the most of it!

I think a more realistic price would be £20 per person and NO extra for a car OR £15 per person and £10 per car, I think that is still generous but not so bad that it feels like a piss take.

At these prices i'm not going next year. I'd rather sit with a duvet and a take away in the warm and enjoy the action with better viewing on the T.V, for free, at home.
 
Hmm, I'm with you feeling that it is expensive - the £10/car seems an additional sting on top of the entry fee. That said, I know I will still go every year ;) it's just not the same, sat on the sofa at home IMO:) and I do enjoy the whole day. (helps that I'm only an hours drive away)
 
I went for the first time this year and I have to agree the price is too high! Luckily I was volunteering for World Horse Welfare so it didn't cost me anything (other than diesel), however if it had I would have been disappointed for the amount it is. I found I spent most of my time next a big screen as it was the only way to properly see anything due to the amount of people. I think next year I'll be doing the same as you and sitting at home in the warmth.
 
The BBC red button coverage is so good that to be honest I doubt I will go much more to Badders on XC day. I'd much rather do a dressage/sj day instead.
 
Burghley is the same price - I expect a lot of it has to go towards the costs of building, organising as well as the repairs to the grounds after the events.

Compared to a ticket to Olympia, HOYS etc where you get a couple of hours instead of all day it doesn't seem that bad.:)
 
I couldn't agree more, cost between 2 of us was £90 in fuel, £58 to get in and £15 for 2 baked potatoes & 2 drinks - a ridiculous total of £163 and that was before I'd even started shopping!

In addition I had a 2 hour drive each way but due to queues on arriving and leaving it took 4 hours to get there and 4 hours to get back - I have been going for many years but this year was the 1st time I've only been for the day & I'll never do it again, it really isn't worth it.
 
I agree with you and I have been going for 30 years this year I just did Friday and spent today curled up with the TV Cat and a big box of maltesers (oh and lots of tea and no Queue for the loo!!)
 
I agree, it is pretty expensive. Doesn't seem to stop the masses attending though, and for us it's an annual pilgrimage. We leave early enough to beat any queues and always have a lovely day - I don't begrudge paying the entry fee :)
 
Adelalaide horse trials - which is a 4* and run early nov 'down under' is brilliant!! Totally free to get in, have a great time, people friendly AND less dogs!
Why can they do it - and we can't? Wouldn't it just be great if it was free?? Although, am in favour of £20 per adult ONLY! (an extra £10 for the family dogs would be good too!!)
 
I got to see horses no more than 10ft away at every fence I wished to see them at-simply wait til a horse goes past and half the crowd moves on naturally, or start at the end and work back against the flow!
It's expensive, but it is superbly well run, and it is one of only a few 4*'s. I didn't see a lack in numbers, so would say if you feel it's too high, don't go. It's not their problem about your 'fuel', etc. and one would expect to pay for e.g. a concert ticket or something of the sort more than that.
Besides which it is a private event so they can charge what they like :)
Sorry, bu I don't begrudge paying for quality and that's what it is (and the loos had loo roll :P)
 
I think all the big events horsey and non need to be very carefull about how much they screw out of folks otherwise they will find gate numbers going down and less revenue not more,!!! the trade stands will lose trade and wont bother, sponsors will see lower numbers of potential customers and take their budget elsewhere I hope the organisers can see the wood for the trees and make it good value for money as well as a great event next year...
 
I used to do Burghley every year which is the same price, last year we had a lousy time thanks to the parking officials. If you pre book a disabled space you should be allowed to park in it, and people should not be rude to you when you ask to and show your badge! Beside the point but still very annoyed!
Anyway OH decided to take me to Blenheim to make up for it. Free parking, reasonable entry fees, horses everywhere, less crowds and all the big names. Best day out I've had for ages. This year I'm doing Burghley on the sofa!
 
perfect11s-how are they screwing people out of money? £23 for up to say 10-12 hours is not unreasonable. £10 for a days car parking also not unreasonable. And I'm sure if their revenue dropped they would be looking at tickets being cheaper-they are expensive because they are popular, like everything in this world!
 
The price is and has always been OTT.

Then to add insult to injury the whole event is expensive, gone are the good deals you found when I was just a slip of a lass at 14! I very much felt the event and event to an extent the stalls, were geared at the well-off, upper class set. Which few of us get to be with horses!
 
hey, I'll not complain if everyone votes with their feet and the tickets become less expensive :D
Tip for the uninitiated-take food and drink with you, quarters the cost!
 
going to see dancing on ice tomorrow £88 for two tickets inc booking fee, £26 train then programme snacks etc on top that is for an evenings performance or could of watched our footy team in playoffs for £15 hd plus travelling for two hours so in repect not anymore overpriced for a top rated event.
 
SusieT said:
perfect11s-how are they screwing people out of money? £23 for up to say 10-12 hours is not unreasonable. £10 for a days car parking also not unreasonable. And I'm sure if their revenue dropped they would be looking at tickets being cheaper-they are expensive because they are popular, like everything in this world!
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Well as long as enough people think its ok then its ok but judging by other posts ..............????
 
suspect though the numebrs are good enough (so enough people are happy to pay) that they can continue to charge? (I have no idea either way lol) .
But I'd say there arre loads of BE events cheaper/maybe not have to pay at all to get into might be worth a look.
 
I do agree it is very expensive for what it is, but for what you get out of it, I would happily pay that with my own money - it's just lucky for me that my parents do it as my Birthday present! You're less than 10 ft away from the top riders, you get a great day out of it, fab shopping, lots of exercise and fresh air, plus you get to meet some brilliant people who you have lots in common with! It's a brilliant family day - even my relatively non horsey brother and dad loved it, taking pictures, chatting with other people, shopping etc. They really do have something for everyone there. xx
 
It is on expensive but it's a day out... compare it with the cost of entry to say Alton Towers and it's on a par. Don't think there's any shortage of people willing to pay that much either!

I chose to go on Friday so could see the Grass Roots Champs, 4* Dressage and also shop in relative peace before watching the xc on red button, got the best of both worlds then, and paid less.

In all honesty, it is a fair price when you think what you get for it - ever looked at how much a ticket is to say a big Rugby match?
 
I went today and got to the front of each fence to watch a horse or two go over; you just have to wait for the crowd to move on and sneak to the front! I find the shopping a bit samey, you can get everything online now (Joules for example is a pita to get into, but can buy it online dead easy) but it is nice to see things in the flesh. I live 30 mins away from Badminton so buy a season ticket each year which works out cheaper if I go every day even if its only for a few hours, but I can see that XC day would be expensive if you travelled a long way away -- but then tickets to see a concert are way above that, parking is the same price usually as Badminton, and you can get in there dead early so make a day of it....
 
perfect11s said:
Well as long as enough people think its ok then its ok but judging by other posts ..............????
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I think the problem is there is still enough people out there with enough disposable cash to go for a day trip, and those who work hard all year and treat it as a holiday etc to keep numbers up.

The Royal Highland Show is a pretty massive event and they manage to keep their prices to £20 an adult (£15 for concessions) and only £5 parking. BUT, children under 16 get in free if accompanied by an adult so it enables families to go. Two parents and two kids (under 16) can have a fab day out for £45 which seems pretty reasonable to me.

Shame more big events don't offer similar deals.
 
It's disgusting - I refuse to pay such ludicrous prices, anyway, you can see far more of the action from the comfort of your own armchair!!
 
Iv'e just posted a reply in Comp Riders.

I dont think Badminton is really that comparable to other top sporting events where if you pay £50 a ticket (cheltenham festival?) you get to dress up and hob nob in a warm tent or bar and drink champers. I went to the FA cup final and for free we had a 3 course meal, free drinkies and fab seats under cover :)

I just do not like paying those prices for Badminton when I can go down the road to Twesledown and watch top riders for £10, there are no crowds and you are so close you can touch them :D. I also love point to pointing, I find it just as entertaining if not more (betting is fun :D) and I get in for a fiver.

I guess its not their problem petrol is so expensive untill people realise that they dont want to spend so much money getting there and getting in?! Not everyone lives within 1 hour. I dont think it matters if your rich or not, sometimes its just irritating paying for things when you know you are not getting your moneys worth. They will be making thousands and thousands from all those trade stands, sponsors ect.. I dont think theres any chance that there may not be a Badminton ever in a future, its a gold mine!!

If I dont want to pay the cost, which I dont, I wont go, simple as. Luckily the BBC do a fine job and I can watch it and whatever else I want for the price of a TV licence, thats more like it!
 
We were going 'till colds killed us off :(. Four of us and one car for two days - I think it worked out at £180. There was x amount in fuel to add on top, but it's not Badders fault that we live two and a half hours away lol. We would have taken drinks and sandwiches as event food is always expensive.

Considering the cost of tickets to go a concert are usually around the twenty-odd pound mark and that only lasts two or three hours, I think that Badders is reasonably priced. I've paid far more to park a car all day so don't have an issue with the parking fee either :D

Even given all the above though, I don't think that they could put the fees up as that would be prohibitive to too many people. I'll pay what I think is fair, taking all into account; I won't pay something that is disproportionatly high when compared to other similar events :D.
 
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