When did Burghley XC day yet so expensive?

[CobsaGooden]

Just that really!

Have been to Burghley multiple times but have for the last 5 years and my son was small. This year I really fancy it but was put off by costs. Still trying to decide (appreciate it’s gone up more now) but when did it get so expensive?

 

[Tiddlypom]

It’s always been expensive, hasn’t it?

Last went in 2019 for all 4 days on a membership, but since then have stayed at home and watched it on Burghley tv.

 

[SantaVera]

Because people will pay it, rather like the oasis tickets, they can charge what they want if people will pay.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I appreciate it's not cheap per se but I still think Burghley (and Badminton) are pretty good value in terms of length of time you are there and the quality of horse and riders you can see, especially compared to other sports.

OH paid about £90 for Wimbledon tickets (I think), it's at least £50-60 for a 90 minute Premier league football match and if we didn't get free tickets, a local-ish motor sports day out would be about £150 per person.

ETA: I've just looked up the Golf Open and that looks to be from £90 + a ticket.

 

[TheMule]

I appreciate it's not cheap per se but I still think Burghley (and Badminton) are pretty good value in terms of length of time you are there and the quality of horse and riders you can see, especially compared to other sports.

OH paid about £90 for Wimbledon tickets (I think), it's at least £50-60 for a 90 minute Premier league football match and if we didn't get free tickets, a local-ish motor sports day out would be about £150 per person.

ETA: I've just looked up the Golf Open and that looks to be from £90 + a ticket.

I agree- very good value, and aren’t we lucky to have such amazing venues running incredible days of sport?

 

[teapot]

While it may seem expensive for equestrian sports, it’s incredibly good value for money if you were to compare a world class event of another sport.

The PGA golf at Wentworth in a couple of weeks of £65 entry for the Sunday and you can’t even park on site. Twickenham is £120 for 80mins to see a Six Nations match (slightly cheaper if you’re in the gods seat wise). Wimbledon is £200-£250 in the second week, and you could be there for four hours, or ten depending on the matches.

 

[KEK]

It will be $$$$ by the time I go and factor in airfare from Australia Think you guys are super lucky.

 

[maisie06]

Because people will pay it, rather like the oasis tickets, they can charge what they want if people will pay.

agreed....That's why Goodwood get away with ridiculous prices.

 

[teapot]

agreed....That's why Goodwood get away with ridiculous prices.

Which bit of Goodwood? Some events are definitely more expensive than others!

 

[MuddyMonster]

agreed....That's why Goodwood get away with ridiculous prices.

Become a member, you then get free or discounted tickets to a lot of things they host and it all then seems cheap

 

[CobsaGooden]

I dont ever remember a ticket and parking costing £75 before! Chatsworth is my local event and I think I have gotten much more used to their prices and free parking (again, appreciate its a different calibre).

 

[teapot]

Become a member, you then get free or discounted tickets to a lot of things they host and it all then seems cheap

I know people who literally pay their annual fees out for this reason! Even their gym members get access to Richmond enclosure tickets during the Glorious weeks

 

[Flowerofthefen]

It's very expensive I think as you don't get to see many riders go round as your trying to fight your way through crowds. I used to go every year, did for years but not been for about 5/6 years now. Too expensive and too busy. I'm fairly close to it as well!

 

[ester]

I’ve only done XC day when I’ve had members tickets- which used to seem like a better deal than they do these days. Realistically it’s too busy for me to really enjoy it.

Camping at badminton used to feel like a pretty cheap holiday 15 years ago- as I was doing it on a phd stipend , it doesn’t feel like that now.

 

[gallopingby]

It seems everyone is jumping on the back of any event these days and corporate organisers are the worst. They want max profits. Just had a look at accommodation prices for HOYs do hotels always double their prices, it’s especially interesting to search costs per night a week after the event.

 

[teacups]

I always wanted to go to Burghley but this sounds a bit scary, pricewise!

How about you all come to Allerton Park instead? : ) Between York and Harrogate, only 5 mins off the A1M, only £15-20 *per car* entry, and a nice walkable place, not too busy, plenty of room to sit & picnic and watch fences.
Not so full of big names and not a patch on something like Burghley, of course, but last time I went I Ros Canter, Nicola Wilson (she had her accident after that) & couple of others were there. I do like smaller events, though - not going there for hundreds of trade stands <g> and I also don't like trekking around for miles between rings, fighting through crowds. Just a nice pleasant day out, and easily accessible. But I accept it's a very different kettle of fish ;P

 

[sportsmansB]

I have been to Burghley several times and never struggle to see riders jumping fences due to crowds.
We get in early and get a good spot at the trout hatchery where we can also see the screen, watch several there and then go either further on up to Joules / cottesmore leap or back to Disc/Def Valley (again, plenty of good spots on the hill) and stop for a few horses at each fence and a jug of Pimms. It is busy but I don't find that I can't see. Actually the only place recently that I've been that I didn't think it was easy to see the interesting fences was Boekelo.

I think for what you get in terms of top level sport for your ££ you'd struggle in most other sporting events, the atmosphere is great, and parking is expensive enough but if you fill a car its £5 each.. or you can walk in from stamford and use the pay and display car parks if you are early enough

 

[thatsnotmyname]

I always wanted to go to Burghley but this sounds a bit scary, pricewise!

How about you all come to Allerton Park instead? : ) Between York and Harrogate, only 5 mins off the A1M, only £15-20 *per car* entry, and a nice walkable place, not too busy, plenty of room to sit & picnic and watch fences.
Not so full of big names and not a patch on something like Burghley, of course, but last time I went I Ros Canter, Nicola Wilson (she had her accident after that) & couple of others were there. I do like smaller events, though - not going there for hundreds of trade stands <g> and I also don't like trekking around for miles between rings, fighting through crowds. Just a nice pleasant day out, and easily accessible. But I accept it's a very different kettle of fish ;P

Allerton is bloody lovely.
Lots of “big” names and you can stay in Harrogate/Leeds make a weekend of it.

Worth a visit!

 

[ester]

The trick to avoiding people is be halfway round the course before it starts, though one year they delayed it for the fog which meant quite a bit of just hanging , for a few years they stopped having the screen in discovery valley but that works well for seeing real life horses but not missing anything and lunch .

Having had the jockey club screens at Blenheim though the burghley ones now seem very small!

 

[Bobthecob15]

We are wrong side of the country for Burghley, we go to badminton instead but similar prices. It’s free isn’t it for kids under a certain age? Although I do remember Burghley were being cheeky and charging something this year?

It is a lot, we pay the extra for members day tickets whenever we go…it’s worth it for somewhere to sit and the toilets are a lot nicer XC day is too busy for me really particularly if you want to look at shops, so we hang out in the members area when not walking the course!

I think from memory though Burghley doesn’t sell members tickets per day? It’s all or nothing? Another reason I prefer Badminton!

 

[ester]

No, but I still much prefer burghley having moved from one side of the country to the other , via the other B's blenheim and barbury on the way

 

[LEC]

I have seen the accounts for Burghley years ago when it was run by BE and it never made huge amounts of money. A couple of hundred thousand profit, which isn’t that much for the hassle. It very very expensive to stick something in a greenfield site. Generators, security, staff, stands, hospitality, tickets admin, loos, health, website, xc course, police, etc etc

 

[CobsaGooden]

Under 5s are free then up to 11 are £5. After that it’s not much cheaper than an adult ticket.
I’ve decided not to go. My 6 year old vetoed it for a monster truck show mid September, at a third of the cost

 

[conniegirl]

I do remember Burghley were being cheeky and charging something this year?

Under 5’s are free and its only a visual check they don’t ask for proof of age.

 

[teacups]

I dared to look, and on Saturday it would be £75 for an adult, inc car parking - and age 12-18 at £40, so 2 adults and two horsemad teens = £110+80+20 =£210 just on entry&parking for the x country day. Plus refreshments etc. Even if not much profit is made & unreasonable, and even if Wimbledon charges a lot too, that is a fair bit of money and will make many people think more about the spend rather than just hopping in a car to go off on a day out.

I wonder how all this affects the trade stands at events like this: if people choose to pay for Burghley tv instead (as many on this forum seem to do) they are also not shopping for things or having impulse buys.