World Equestrian Games Ticket Prices!!!!!

[eventamy]

I just noticed on my Facebook page (as I'm a fan of the WEG Kentucky and get updates) that the ticket pricing and dates are listed.

http://www.alltechfeigames.com/content.aspx?id=2728

I just about peed myself when I noticed the prices for Eventing! I've made plans to go since the day the games were given to the KHP, as my aunt lives in Kentucky and I've tried to make it to Rolex as often as I can go. Plus, it's the WEG in the US!!!

If I go all 4 days for eventing and get the A priced tickets (B isn't much less, I'd like to know what the difference is) it will cost me $390!!! That's just for me!!!! WTF!! This will be a family vacation with me, my DH and my 2 daughters (who will be 7 and 3 by then) and it happens to be over my DH's birthday and my birthday. BUT my GOD! It will be cheaper to get into Disney World! No joke!
I understand that it's a big deal and they have to pay for it somehow but WOW! How am I going to justify this to my DH who is only going to humor me (he rides some but doesn't see the big deal about spectating, but I know he'll love the KHP!)!

[SaturdayNightLive]

Well I was way excited to hear that it was going to be only like a 20 hour drive from me, but after looking at the prices, there is no way in hell I can afford to go. It's not worth it to drive all the way out there for one or two events, and I sure can't afford tickets for anymore than that.

PS - hospitality packages? Holy terrifying!

[Gunnar]

Did you see the Hospitality ticket prices! :eek: Not sure I can get there but the $$$$ will be tough for more than one person to attend! ;)

[Hattie]

hmmmm........I ordered mine last year when they become available through USEF and the show jumping tickets cost me $700 and I believe that is for four classes!!!!! I certainly hope that they are PREMIERE seats!

[Sandy M]

I, too, was excited when the venue was announced and figured that would be my 2010 vacation, but when i saw the prices... pffft! Not going. I canNOT justify that sort of expense, plus air fare, hotel, meals, etc., etc., not even if I did it when visiting a friend in NC and driving to KY as we have done for Rolex on several occasions. Fuggedaboudit! It's sad when these events are priced out of the range of the average horse person. Guess I'll just wait for the DVD (preferably a used copy). I'm supporting one horse to ride and a retiree, just barely. This is waaay to much for me.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

Oh God I don't even want to go look...you guys are scaring me. We've been talking about this for years. We have a place to stay. We've saved up our frequent flier miles. We have the t-shirt for cripes sakes!

[Sonesta]

Oh God I don't even want to go look...you guys are scaring me. We've been talking about this for years. We have a place to stay. We've saved up our frequent flier miles. We have the t-shirt for cripes sakes!

It's not much better for tickets to the FEI World Championships in August this year at Windsor. But I'm going. I'm going. I'm going!

[DLee]

Wow. That's depressing. :( Way to shoot themselves in the foot.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

What's the difference denoted by price A and price B? Do they show the seating anywhere?

[DrivingQueen]

Well, the cheapest way to go is to volunteer! They are still looking for TONS of volunteers for the discplines as well as general volunteers. It is my understanding that this will also be the same as a General Admission ticket which will get you into the trade fair and watch the jumbo-tron as well as be free to roam on both cross-country days (driving and eventing). the volunteers are also being sponsored by Ariat, so whether you help direct traffic, jump judge, or score run, you're going to get some pretty cool stuff!

you can go here: http://www.alltechfeigames.com/volunteer/default.aspx?id=258&ekmensel=c580fa7b_8_40_btnlink to register as a volunteer.

volunteers also get fed! and the games are working on affordable, good housing from staying in local churches, to renting out a boarding school, to bringing in temporary housing to make a volunteer village. They have also blocked rooms in some of the less expensive hotels. This will be strictly for volunteers and reserved through the volunteer coordinator.

it's not too late and will be a far different experience than just watching from the stands, you'll be right there in the thick of things!

[tidy rabbit]

Wow. That's depressing. :( Way to shoot themselves in the foot.

No kidding.

[Huntertwo]

Wow, I didn't realize they charge separately for every event. :eek:

How could the average person go with a family? Or do they think all horse people are wealthy? ;)

[DLee]

As far as volunteering, I've been signed up to volunteer forever. I just went to 'update' my status, and quit when I read the longgg list of things to check off that I had to agree to...

[SaturdayNightLive]

I really want to volunteer, but I can't take that much time off of school. :(

[Nes]

oh my! Thanks for the heads up, I was still clinging on to some silly notion I was magically going to be able to make it down there to move into the stadiums and live the games 24/7 - guess I'll give it up *sigh* maybe they'll come back to NA in the near future... :(

[LexInVA]

Anyone want to go to Disney World instead? :)

[LaurieB]

If you think the ticket prices are bad, wait until you see what the hotels are going to charge. Also, they won't be allowing private cars into the horse park. You'll have to got to a central staging area and take a bus over.

DLee, what did you have to agree to to be a volunteer?

[LaurieB]

Forgot to mention: the organizers purposely timed the games to conflict with 2nd week of the huge Keeneland September sale, which then leads into the opening of the Keeneland meet. They seemed to think there wouldn't be enough of an audience for the event unless they put it when there were already a lot of extra horse people in town--somehow they overlooked the fact that those who come for the sale and here working, not looking for a horsey diversion.

The sale alone usually fills up most of the hotels in town, so if you're planning on staying in one, you should be booking the room now.

[DLee]

LaurieB,
I had checked off that I would be interested (as a competition volunteer) in 'decorating', 'hospitality', 'schooling area' (I think it was called), I think that's it. Explained my qualifications.
Then it opened to the next page where I had to certify that I was able (or above able to...) work long hours, any shift (24 hr. coverage for decorating), bending, lifting etc., work long hours while remaining friendly, cheerful and diplomatic :lol: (I THINK I could), etc. etc.
If I wanted to do reining (which I kind of did) I had to do ALL the reining. So, I get that it makes it easier for them I'm sure, it was just kind of disheartening. :( I think I'll pay the GA ticket price. At least XC day is affordable.

[Dressage Art]

I would love to volunteer for dressage, but they don't have that option yet.

[Wizard of Oz's]

I'll be going to UK then, so there is NO WAY that all of that can be going on a couple miles from campus and I don't go! I would seriously drive myself crazy if I wasn't there. I'm a poor college kid, but I'm buying my tickets soon and I'm saving up until then! I HAVE to go! :mad:

[msrobin]

I am in complete shock at the ticket prices, especially that you must buy a separate ticket for each event! Way to expensive. There is no way we are paying that much, plus the crazy hotel prices. I cannot believe they set them so high. So many people cannot go due to this.

Did they not think of the freaking economy???? Looks like they are ONLY catering to the affluent and not thinking about us regular everyday horse people.

I am just sick that I cannot go. Buying tickets for three people to see the events we wanted to (dressage, jumping) would cost thousands. No way.

Those hospitality packages are nuts!!! Even if I could afford it I would pay that. I am sure their ticket sales will be down like crazy.

[LegalEagle]

Maybe it would be cheaper to try to qualify with my horse in time? :lol:

[RNB]

Maybe it would be cheaper to try to qualify with my horse in time? :lol:

I think it would be cheaper to BUY a horse and try to qualify!!:lol:

[CookiePony]

hmmmm........I ordered mine last year when they become available through USEF and the show jumping tickets cost me $700 and I believe that is for four classes!!!!! I certainly hope that they are PREMIERE seats!

Wait a minute... I did the prepay thing and never heard about the actual ordering! I have since let my USEF membership lapse but I gave them $$$ up front. Is the presale still going on?

DLee, I tried to fill out that form and got totally overwhelmed by the choices and certifying my abilities, etc. I gave up, too.

ETA: I found the info about the USEF offer, and apparently Ticketmaster is supposed to email me when it is time to order.
http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/Faqs/WEGTicket.aspx

[Pat]

I'm afraid to even look at the general admission prices...

I do have 3 friends that live in the area. One is too far to be practical (45 minutes out of town in no traffic) but two do live in town. I'll be visiting Lex in about 2.5 weeks, so I'll be begging them for a place to park my mom's small camper. I'm prepared to drive "Sir Drinks Alot" down there and park in one or the other's driveway. IIRC, there ARE NO other campgrounds even remotely close to KHP except for the KHP campgrounds. Which will be the groom's village. oh well.

Is it too late to knock off a GP groom and take thier place?

[mtngirl]

So disappointing! And while it may be true, that statement of "Approximately 600,000 tickets will be available with prices starting as low as $25", gets your hopes all up until you look at the events that are actually priced reasonable.

And did you notice that they've divided some events into separate sessions? Dressage team competition - two sessions "1st half and 2nd half?" @ $60 per session? And that's for the "B" section...whatever that is. I really, really want to see the dressage but I don't think I'll be able to afford $540 for just the dressage competition. Maybe I'll try for just the freestyle....:cry:

[War Admiral]

Forgot to mention: the organizers purposely timed the games to conflict with 2nd week of the huge Keeneland September sale, which then leads into the opening of the Keeneland meet. They seemed to think there wouldn't be enough of an audience for the event unless they put it when there were already a lot of extra horse people in town--somehow they overlooked the fact that those who come for the sale and here working, not looking for a horsey diversion.

The sale alone usually fills up most of the hotels in town, so if you're planning on staying in one, you should be booking the room now.

Wow, Laurie, that's insane!! It's two COMPLETELY separate markets. I bet if even 1% of the ppl in town for the sale go to ONE session of the WEG, that will be a lot. :no:

FWIW I also agree that the ticket prices are way too high. However, having had the experience of the Olympics in my home town, I am wondering whether it'll be the same at the WEG - where if you show up on the day, you'll be able to acquire a ticket outside the venue for $5-10. I got to see ALL the Olympic soccer that way.

I must say I lolled at whoever said 45 minutes out of town is just tooooooo far to drive. If I go at all, which is a HUGE "if", given that I only get one week of vacation a year and Quattro may be showing lightly next year, I'm planning to go for one day only (would only be able to afford 1-2 sessions in the B seats!) and drive 4 hrs each way as a DAY TRIP.

But frankly I don't think I need to attend all that much.

[caffeinated]

I signed up to volunteer ages ago, even agreed to all kinds of stuff... and never heard anything back. huh.

[Ravencrest_Camp]

Looks like they are ONLY catering to the affluent and not thinking about us regular everyday horse people.



Sadly this is true of all sporting events these days.

Did you hear the prices at the new Yankee Stadium? (The building of which I am sure was subsidized by taxpayer dollars)

Unfortunately these days all sporting events & venues cater to the corporate sector and the affluent, it isn't just the WEG. :no:

[LSM1212]

:eek: Holy smokes!!!!!

I was so excited about going.... and I'm one of the lucky ones as I only live about an hour and 15 minutes from the KHP.

But I think my hubby would kill me if I spent that much on tickets.

:sigh:

What a shame.

[QHEventr]

I didn't even think about it conflicting with the Sept sale! I am consigning a few this year, and had hoped to have at least 6 next sept. Why would I pay those crazy prices when i can be making money?

Johanna

[Trakehner]

Sports are big business. I'll not be going to the 2010 WEGs....or the Olympics, or Superbowl...you couldn't drag me to a basketball game. They can charge whatever their little fuzzy heart desires.

Don't want to pay these prices? You don't have to go, you can keep your money at home and have fun. If you want to go, bring the KY.

[tidy rabbit]

Ahhhh and they wonder why equestrian sports aren't BIG in the US. Hummmph... here was a chance to really get people interested. Bet there isn't any deals with Network TV to cover much of any of it either. What a shame.
Way to go USEF. Rock on.

[Antaeus]

I, too, was excited when the venue was announced and figured that would be my 2010 vacation, but when i saw the prices... pffft! Not going. I canNOT justify that sort of expense, plus air fare, hotel, meals, etc., etc., not even if I did it when visiting a friend in NC and driving to KY as we have done for Rolex on several occasions. Fuggedaboudit! It's sad when these events are priced out of the range of the average horse person. Guess I'll just wait for the DVD (preferably a used copy). I'm supporting one horse to ride and a retiree, just barely. This is waaay to much for me.

Me, too! I haven't had a vacation in years and really wanted to go to the WEG and see the KHP. I went to all the equine events at the '84 Olympics and thought the experience would be similar. Figured I would make it vacation, Christmas, b'day present all rolled into one! However, we support six horses, just found out my work days may be cut by 10 per year (and keeping fingers crossed that I won't get an IOU for my next several months salary from the "Golden State").:cry: Some horse activities certainly are out of range for many of us...

[Regal Grace]

As much as I would love to go, I could never commit that far in advance to buy tickets. I am from NY so the added cost of airfare, hotels, etc. It's a splurge just to be able to attend Rolex 3-Day event which I did this year. I almost did not go but I thought I would never get the opportunity again to see many of the European riders that came over this year plus it was great to see the new stadium. The closest I will get to WEG is if I can manage coming up with the $$ to Rolex 3-Day 2010 which will act as the test event for Eventing or be lucky enough to win a contest (all expense paid trip) to WEG.

http://2010radioshow.horseradionetwork.com/2008/10/23/test-events-scheduled-for-alltech-fei-world-equestrian-games/

[Classic Melody]

It’s disappointing, but I’ll bet they can fill the seats at those prices since there just aren’t that many seats, even with the new stadium. But $45 tix on XC day are a huge mistake. With basically unlimited capacity at the horse park, they should keep the barrier to entry as low as possible so that people will come SHOP. That’s where the real money is.

I just wrote a respectful email to Ruth Mason, tickets@feigames2010.org, to that effect, and you should too.

[Glimmerglass]

A pdf of the rates by discipline - here (http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/2009/06/30/09/wegticketspart2.source.prod_affiliate.79.pdf)

From today's Lexington Herald-Leader (http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/848024.html):

The ticket prices were based on those at the last World Equestrian Games, in Aachen, Germany, in 2004, Games spokeswoman Amy Walker said.

"That was where it was started," she said. "We wanted to offer tickets that were a range of prices so they were accessible and affordable and had something for everybody."

Prices vary depending on the stage of competition. For example, most reining events in the new indoor arena will cost $95 a ticket, but the individual final competition is $120. The cross-country phase of the eventing competition will cost $45, compared to $30 for the same day of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

The closing ceremonies on Oct. 8 are $80 a ticket.

According to previous statements by Games officials, ticket sales are supposed to offset about $30.6 million of the $76 million operations budget being raised by the World Games Foundation. Other revenues include sponsorships, licensing fees and trade show rental spaces.

[harveyhorses]

Well, the cheapest way to go is to volunteer! They are still looking for TONS of volunteers for the discplines as well as general volunteers. It is my understanding that this will also be the same as a General Admission ticket which will get you into the trade fair and watch the jumbo-tron as well as be free to roam on both cross-country days (driving and eventing). the volunteers are also being sponsored by Ariat, so whether you help direct traffic, jump judge, or score run, you're going to get some pretty cool stuff!

you can go here: http://www.alltechfeigames.com/volunteer/default.aspx?id=258&ekmensel=c580fa7b_8_40_btnlink to register as a volunteer.

volunteers also get fed! and the games are working on affordable, good housing from staying in local churches, to renting out a boarding school, to bringing in temporary housing to make a volunteer village. They have also blocked rooms in some of the less expensive hotels. This will be strictly for volunteers and reserved through the volunteer coordinator.

it's not too late and will be a far different experience than just watching from the stands, you'll be right there in the thick of things!


That's me!! I am getting ready to fill out my info now. Thanks !!
I would rather 'be a part of it' even in a really small menial way.

[Holly Jeanne]

Caffeinated said:
I signed up to volunteer ages ago, even agreed to all kinds of stuff... and never heard anything back. huh.

Me too! In fact, I've signed up to volunteer at least twice now as they changed the initial system they were using. Even filled out all the forms. Haven't heard a thing and I live in KY and volunteered to help out prior to the event. Also a member of the KY Horse Council and the Kentucky Dressage Association. I knew the first two volunteer coordinators but neither are with the WEG now. Very frustrating. :no: I'm hoping my volunteering with Rolex might eventually get my foot in the door.

[Samantha37]

Plus I heard the hotels are going to have a 4 night minimum stay. Even if I wanted to drive down there for a couple of events with the ticket prices the way they are- the 4 night stay thing is absurd and puts the whole thing way out of my price range.

They really have shot themselves in the foot. I hope there are enough "affluent" people to make up the $30 mil offset they are planning on. They have made it darn near impossible for the average person to go for a couple of days.

[ddashaq]

I live 10 minutes from KHP and I will only being going to XC and maybe some of the driving. Originally I wanted to watch all of the eventing, but I just don't think that it is worth the $$.

[bugsynskeeter]

If I still live in Georgetown when the games are going on, I'd rather be out of the state then deal with the madhouse the KHP is going to be. If they are ready in 450 days, I'll be SHOCKED!

They also had to move the reining to the first week of the games, as it conflicted with Congress when they origionally had it set.

I'd love to go see the reining, but at those prices? lol. I'll save my money and fly to OKC to see the Futurity.

[magnolia73]

Wow.

Good luck with selling all those $120 tickets for 1/2 day of jumping or dressage. They can barely give away tickets to the big jumper show in Charlotte.....

And its not a good time to be selling corporate suites etc. Many companies are cutting back and might be loath to spend $60,000 so a few clients can go watch horse sports. Even our big golf tournament struggled to sell packages.

[War Admiral]

I guess this is what happens when you get professional "event managers" who don't understand the dynamic of the audience they're selling to. :no: Basing their pricing on the Aachen prices is ridiculous - equestrian sports are actually watched over there, unlike here.

I wonder how many of those folks will actually travel over from Europe? Not many, I'm thinking!

Edit: Forgot to say the reining conflict with Congress made me LOL. That's priceless!

[dressagetraks]

Holy Smoke!

I get $3505 for A level tickets to everything, dropping to the bargain price of $2955 if you take B level when available.

And that's only tickets. Plus accommodations, plus food, plus T-shirts, model horse, etc.

This has been planned as my dream vacation, but I'll be taking a long look at doing only part of it.

[2foals]

I was a bit taken aback by the ticket prices as well.

I also would like to volunteer, but since we live very close to the KHP we will be hosting a lot of out of town guests during the competition and I am a little bit limited as to what I can do. I'd love to work a day or two helping to set up or something like that, just don't know if it is possible.

[mares tails]

Bet there isn't any deals with Network TV to cover much of any of it either.

NBC & WEG (http://www.alltechfeigames.com/news/detail.aspx?id=1366)

.

[RedMare01]

I live close but...

also surprised at those prices. I thought that around World Cup time they were saying that the WEG tickets would be much cheaper? Uh, yeah. Not.

I wanted to go to one dressage day and one show jumping day. Now I will probably just try to get tickets to the dressage freestyle and call it quits (at a mere $140 each). Why on earth have they split the days into two different sessions? I am supposed to pay $125 PER SESSION PER PERSON for the Special? Nope, not me.

Caitlin

[see u at x]

Gee, can you just go in and visit the vendors without buying tickets? That's probably going to be about all I'll be able to afford to do... :no:

[Pirateer]

I think I'm going to sign up as a volunteer. Free food, free hotel, free Ariat swag? You bet!

[mares tails]

Gee, can you just go in and visit the vendors without buying tickets?
There will be general admission tickets for that - shop & watch the big screen, but no entry into the stadiums.

.

[Calhoun]

The Games are not for Americans only, there are lots of monied Europeans/South Americans willing to come over and spend. Has anyone been to the WEG in Europe? Was the cost the same? Although I agree it is expensive to attend, no one predicted October 2008 and I am assuming this event has been planned well before the world economy turned to $hit.

[LexInVA]

Gee, can you just go in and visit the vendors without buying tickets? That's probably going to be about all I'll be able to afford to do... :no:

You can always just touch one of the folks who comes out of that golden gate. :lol:

[DLee]

I think I'm going to sign up as a volunteer. Free food, free hotel, free Ariat swag? You bet!

Free hotel, what? I read they would feed you during your shift.


2foals, that is exactly where I'm at. I have company who is planning on coming (though when THEY see the prices, who knows!), so I don't want to be working all the time.

We have a good friend who will most likely be on the reining team (knock wood), but who knows which day?? I sure can't pay for every day... maybe they get extra passes or something...

[Pirateer]

Free hotel, what? I read they would feed you during your shift.


Maybe not free hotel, but I remember something about setting up housing for volunteers.

[LexInVA]

Maybe not free hotel, but I remember something about setting up housing for volunteers.

Shanty Town! :lol:

[see u at x]

You can always just touch one of the folks who comes out of that golden gate. :lol:

hahahahaha....excellent! I can hardly wait! Maybe some of their greatness will rub off on me...not. :lol:

[War Admiral]

Maybe not free hotel, but I remember something about setting up housing for volunteers.

If you go over to the post by DrivingQueen in the Driving forum you'll see they are promising accommodation at "minimal cost" - which, however, seems to include discounts at affiliated hotels. That would be far from minimal, in my experience, unless the discount were VERY deep!

[Pirateer]

If you go over to the post by DrivingQueen in the Driving forum you'll see they are promising accommodation at "minimal cost" - which, however, seems to include discounts at affiliated hotels. That would be far from minimal, in my experience, unless the discount were VERY deep!

Awe, dang.

[LexInVA]

I'm telling ya, they are going shanty all the way!

[evenstar]

I, too, was expecting to be able to go for a good, long vacation and get tickets for lots of events (all the dressage, the eventing, some of the driving...) but after seeing those prices, I'm thinking it's going to be live streaming on the web for me, assuming NBC handles that like they did the Olympics in Hong Kong.

For some reason, I just had it in my head that it would be like Atlanta, where ticket prices were pretty darn reasonable and I stayed for the entire two weeks and attended all but a couple of the show jumping days.

I forgot to consider that, for the Atlanta organizers, Equestrian was a niche sport that they felt they had to actually pay people to attend!

I wonder if prices will come down as they get closer to the WEG and find that ticket sales are way under what was planned. Of course, by then, good luck finding a place to stay (other than your car).

[bugsynskeeter]

Hmmm...maybe I should trade renting out my bedroom for tickets to reining...

[War Admiral]

Hmmm...maybe I should trade renting out my bedroom for tickets to reining...

Heck yeah, if I lived in the vicinity, I sure would! :yes:

[Sue from Auckland]

If I go all 4 days for eventing and get the A priced tickets (B isn't much less, I'd like to know what the difference is) it will cost me $390!!! Woooooooooooo - I think I paid about that much in TOTAL for EVERY session of EVERY discipline at the Sydney Olympics. If you were adding accommodation and travel on top ..... Yikes - guess I won't be joining you in 2010 unless I win lotto in the meantime.

[tidy rabbit]

NBC & WEG (http://www.alltechfeigames.com/news/detail.aspx?id=1366)

.


AWESOME! I love being wrong when it comes to things like this! :)

[DrivingQueen]

if the driving people have anything to say about it, we will absolutely NOT be involved in anything even remotely resembling a shanty town! we take GOOD care of our volunteers, knowing the spend lot's of time, money, and effort to assist us in the competitive realm.

even you don't want to volunteer, i bet you can find someone in your NGB, Association, or local club who would be willing to rent you some floor space, maybe even an inflatable mattress, if you start checking it out now!

while the volunteer website can be confusing and complicated, it is the same software they have been using for many huge sporting events the past few years from the NBA finals to the Olympics.

the amount of red tape depends on what you are signing up for. General volunteers not as much, Training Area Stewards-shoot yeah! and for good reason! (these are just examples, there are many, many jobs!)

sure, it's expensive or time consuming or whatever else you want to complain about it, but it's possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity and i won't miss it for anything!

[Coreene]

Ah, how much do you guys think it costs to put on an event like this? Look at prices for the World Series / NBA Finals / Super Bowl. It's the world championships, not a schooling show.

[Release First]

hmmmm........I ordered mine last year when they become available through USEF and the show jumping tickets cost me $700 and I believe that is for four classes!!!!! I certainly hope that they are PREMIERE seats!

Actually that is for 7 classes. It is $720 if you buy them all individually so you are getting a $20 discount!

[War Admiral]

Ah, how much do you guys think it costs to put on an event like this? Look at prices for the World Series / NBA Finals / Super Bowl. It's the world championships, not a schooling show.

Royal Windsor Horse Show: 15GBP to 30GBP.

Horse of the Year Show (UK): 25GBP to 55 GBP.

Syracuse Invitational: $10 to $25.

Burghley Horse Trials: 10GBP to 26 GBP.

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (CAN): $18CAN to $70CAN ($70 includes hospitality).

(Saddlebred) World Championship Horse Show: $9 to $20.

See where I'm going with this? And those are all per DAY, not per session. It's literally cheaper to fly to the UK and do 4 days at Burghley!

[bumknees]

Well So much for a long looked foward to vacation.. Though dh would say ' yeah sure no problem' he would be thinking ' is she frikken nuts?" then proceed to call those guys with the huggie jackets...

[tidy rabbit]

Ah, how much do you guys think it costs to put on an event like this? Look at prices for the World Series / NBA Finals / Super Bowl. It's the world championships, not a schooling show.

I've been to the world cup in vegas 2x and it was not this expensive and I had good seats.

Oh well.

[Coreene]

Oh please. None of those are shows bringing in each FEI discipline with competitors from all over the world and every single ensuing roll-on detail. None of those are shows that begin ad campaigns several years out, etc etc etc. What do you think it costs to put on something like the world championships? Did you think ticket prices were a courtesy charge?

[magnolia73]

Look at prices for the World Series / NBA Finals / Super Bowl.

Except for that there is far more demand for a ticket to the Super Bowl than to watch dressage. Super Bowl- for the price of my ticket I get to see the entire game, get live entertainment at half time from someone like Prince or Paul McCartney.... and well, football has a proven base of fans willing to spend a lot of money to watch a game.

Bob Johnson puts on his event in Charlotte downtown- I think tickets maybe range $25-$45 for the main event. They sell very few boxes. The arena is generally empty, and usually you can get tickets for free. I don't think it is cheap to put on- I believe the purse is $300,000, they bring in footing, have entertainment, assemble tents in Uptown for horses.

We'll see- who knows- maybe people will pay $100+ to watch a half day of dressage or showjumping.

And honestly, probably this event is going to be heavily subsidized by the taxpayers of Kentucky. How sad that it is not an event with pricing attainable for most families. The cheapest venue, paradressage is $25 a ticket- so $100 for a family of 4. Plus probably a $5-$10 charge per ticket from Ticketmaster- So more like $120-$130 to come watch the paradressage which is probably usually something you can watch free of charge.

[caffeinated]

i understand that it's expensive to put on, especially since so much work and building had to be done for it (including widening area roads, etc), but it's just sort of sad that it prices a lot of us out. I guess if enough people are travelling internationally not caring about the cost, they can fill all the seats, but I'm just sort of wistful that a lot of average joe types who have never had the opportunity to really take in such a world class event won't really be able to go. And honestly, when WIHS can't fill an arena for grand prix night at $50 a ticket with so many horse people right in the area... I do have to wonder how they'll pull it off.

I had wanted to go to see as much jumping as possible, but it's looking like it will be out of my price range. Oh well, there's still Rolex :)

In the meantime, I'll go sign up to volunteer, again, and see if anything comes of it :)

[Jealoushe]

I've signed up to volunteer, I'm already signed for the reining, and had e-mails to come to the training volunteer days.

Hopefully I can get into the eventing volunteer days too!

[tidy rabbit]

Caff, go to KY Spring shows and watch the world cup qualifiers. You can see many of the same riders and horses for free. :)

[mares tails]

"According to previous statements by Games officials, ticket sales are supposed to offset about $30.6 million of the $76 million operations budget being raised by the World Games Foundation. Other revenues include sponsorships, licensing fees and trade show rental spaces.

Taxpayer money is not being used to operate the Games, but the state has provided about $81 million to build an indoor arena and an outdoor stadium and provide extensive road upgrades at the Horse Park."

[magnolia73]

$81 million dollars could build some schools, provide some health care for the rural areas of Kentucky. I hope that they reap long term economic benefits from the investment, but almost always, investing in sports venues fails to provide an asset to taxpayers. I hope any shortfall in running the event is covered by another source.

Quite the subsidy.... I hope the hotel and restaurant owners make a fortune.

[caffeinated]

Caff, go to KY Spring shows and watch the world cup qualifiers. You can see many of the same riders and horses for free. :)

when are they, and would that interfere with Rolexing? :D

[tidy rabbit]

KY Spring runs for two weeks in May at the KHP and it usually rains most of the time and is not very warm... but it's a great show with TONS of amazing riders and horses from all over.

[War Admiral]

Caff, go to KY Spring shows and watch the world cup qualifiers. You can see many of the same riders and horses for free. :)

This is exactly what I was thinking. I'm suspecting a lot of the European crowd will come over here early.

[harveyhorses]

O.k. I hope this is a stupid question, I filled out the general volunteer form. They say you get all sorts of cool stuff from Ariat, admission to volunteers only areas etc. BUT, I can not find where it says admission to the Horse Park for the actual event(s). Please tell me this IS a stupid question, and I am just cynical from working with Lawyers.
Yes I actually did try to volunteer at something that charged the volunteers admission. :no:
If it says so in big bold writing I'll feel dumb but better.

[dwblover]

I must say I'm very disappointed. I thought I might be able to go and watch all the dressage sessions, but not at those prices!!!:eek: Then I was thinking I might be able to just go and watch the dressage freestyle, but if the hotels are requiring a four night stay, then I'm out for sure. Wow, the WEG will actually be held in my country and I'm probably going to miss it. And I love the line about tickets starting at $25. Yeah, like I'm going to fly to Kentucky to watch people walk in and out of the stadium I'm dying to sit in. Two thumbs down.

[DLee]

I wonder if there really would be a market for a rented out bedroom (aka B&B)?

[RedMare01]

I'm wondering the same thing! My guest room and couch might be worth some $$! :lol: And I don't have a four night minimum!

Caitlin

[caffeinated]

KY Spring runs for two weeks in May at the KHP and it usually rains most of the time and is not very warm... but it's a great show with TONS of amazing riders and horses from all over.

So basically, I should go down for rolex, stay for the derby, and come back to MD sometime in June. :yes:

OK who has a spare couch? *grin*

[rabicon]

I looked to go to the xcountry and eventing jumping and all the jumping it would be 870.00 for just me!!!!!:eek: There is no way. I'm looking at going to the Charolette Classic and Rolex next year instead. The sad thing is we were going to have a free condo :no: Even with a free condo I can't do 1740.00 for me and my daughter to go away for a few days. It really makes me mad that they would charge the way they are :mad: Why is it not charged on a day basis not a section part 1 and 2 bullshi$$ Or say that all jumping is 300.00 etc... That is just way to much money.

[rabicon]

Look at the difference in prices for 2006 weg AND THESE PRICES ARE FOR THE WEEK!!!!! NOT PER PART!!!!!

http://www.aachen2006.de/tickets/vorverkauf_e.html

The horse park just decided to build all this new fancy stuff and spend millions and want us to make up for it. Thats the way it goes I guess but really sucks. I'll go in 4 years overseas if I have to for much cheaper. What I'd save in ticket price difference I can use on plane tickets or use frequent flyer miles and can go somewhere I've never been. Sounds better to me.

[lorilu]

For those of us who signed up for the presale, any idea when we will get "the email" telling us about actually getting seats? last thing I heard was back in May.

L

[Regal Grace]

Look at the difference in prices for 2006 weg AND THESE PRICES ARE FOR THE WEEK!!!!! NOT PER PART!!!!!

http://www.aachen2006.de/tickets/vorverkauf_e.html

The horse park just decided to build all this new fancy stuff and spend millions and want us to make up for it. Thats the way it goes I guess but really sucks. I'll go in 4 years overseas if I have to for much cheaper. What I'd save in ticket price difference I can use on plane tickets or use frequent flyer miles and can go somewhere I've never been. Sounds better to me.

Normandy is beautiful. I've been. And if you do go make sure you see the D-Day cemetary and beaches, Omah, Utah, etc. It's moving and breathtaking.

[rabicon]

Normandy is beautiful. I've been. And if you do go make sure you see the D-Day cemetary and beaches, Omah, Utah, etc. It's moving and breathtaking.


Thanks, I will if all things are go in 4 years. :D

[tenacity]

We were planning on going... But when I filled out the hotel registration form in early May, that indicated that hotel rates would be starting at $300 a night with a four night minimum stay. That really wasn't sitting well with me. The other day when ticket prices came out, I said forget it. For that kind of money, there are alot of other vacations I would rather take.

[airbourne1]

I have my hotel already booked, and it's more than three times what they normally charge. The Griffin Gate is charging $525 per night for a king room, and you have to have everything paid for a year in advance. Totally outrageous. The problem is that they have consolidated all of the hotel rooms for WEG, and they are free to charge whatever they want. I've been saving up, but the cost of tickets and housing is just outrageous. Not to mention that there is not going to be enough housing for everyone. I was told that they are expecting cities an hour away to be fully booked as well. So imagine having to pay for 2 hours worth of driving each way, on top of everything else. It's just nuts....

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Eventin, $45 per session for the eventing dressage... that's steep, esp "eventing dressage".
$45 for the XC... worth every cent, I'd gladly plop that down to see the best of the best going XC. I mean people pay 30 bucks for Rolex XC, and this is Rolex times five.
$80 to watch the eventing jump off.... I can see that, it's the WEG jump off.
So, say you watch one dressage session (I mean, how much eventing dressage can a person watch any way?), take the rest of the day to see the sites at Lexington, tour a few stud farms, maybe head to Keeneland, then catch XC the next day and then the showjumping and you're out $170... hmmm, that's not beyond reasonable.

The Showjumping, $60 a session for the warm up rounds..... I think I'd pass.
The first couple of rounds of the team comp at $60 a session... not sure I'd justify it.
$80 for the team final.... a little steep, but I'd pay it, it's the WEG team jump off, as good a Nation's Cup as you're likely to see.
$90 for the individual jump off... a bit steep, but it's a good long session with the best of the best, they've weeded out the dross by then.
$105 for the final four... I'd pay it in a heart beat. This is the pinnacle of world showjumping, the FINAL FOUR, and all the atmosphere and intensity that goes with it.
So skip the early rounds, catch the team final, the individual jump off and the final four and you're out $275... not unreasonable for 3 days of the best showjumping you'll see.

Dressage. This one is harder, because you can't really leave sessions out without missing big riders. I guess you could ditch the first day and catch the 2nd part of the team and then the Special, but it's still going to set you back the bones of 300 bucks.

[ozjb]

My daughter and I were planning on coming to the US for the WEG. We are Americans living in Australia and I had this big plan for coming home, visiting family and attending the WEG! LOL

I have contacted the organisers about hotels etc and am trying to figure out if there are any packages that would include tickets and accommodation. I haven't heard anything back at all.

It's really hard to do this from overseas. Are there any companies (reputable ones) that have packages? I can't find them.

We looked at the private house thing as a couple of other families want to attend. ohmigosh. A 2 bedroom condo is about $600 a night!!! I would hate to think how much a house with enough room for 2 or 3 families to share might cost.

The Horse Magazine has a tour that is about $8,000+ per person. I had laughted myself silly over that, but now I am thinking about taking a closer look at it. Not really, but maybe it would work out cheaper. :-)

Jackie in Oz

[Guilherme]

The cost of a four day stay for two plus tickets, etc. kind of looks like (all USD):

Hotel: 1200
Tickets*: 860
Meals: 500
Misc**: 500
Milage: 250
Total: 3310 (plus taxes, fees, etc.)

For this amount of money I could buy two private lessons per day with an internationally recognized instructor (multi-time qualifier for the PanAm games in Dressage and Eventing) for a year.

Or take a two week trip out west with two horses and enjoy riding someplace between The Dakotas and the Big Bend.

Or spend a week in Spain riding in Andalucia. Or maybe Portugal.

I think I'll vote with my dollars on this and stay home.

G.

*Opening ceremony, two premier events, two "off" events.

**Parking, T-shirts, assorted kitzch, etc.

[BarbB]

I have been planning to go since the day it was announced, but there is no way I can afford those ticket prices.
I see absolutely no reason to travel to the World Games to watch ONE discipline. I would rather go to one of the big 3day events. I wanted to see the best riders (or drivers) in several disciplines.....that would cost a fortune.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

That 2 people would drop $500 to eat for four days makes me go :eek:
That you can ride with a a multi-time qualifier for the PanAm games in Dressage and Eventing for $4.50 a lesson makes me go triple :eek::eek::eek:

[LovesHorses]

I guess a 10 x 10 vendor booth is $12,500. Then you add in paying the employees, hotels, food, airfare, etc. That means you would need to sell a ton of stuff to the people who won't be there because the ticket prices are outrageous. Yikes!!!!

[Foxtrot's]

I would jump at the chance to see this world class performance - but it is too rich for my blood. However, there are lots of extras, demos, performances, stuff to see not to mention atmosphere, so for some people it is worth it. We'll all be green with envy when our friends all come home bragging about what a wondeful time they had.

[Wallysfolley]

They DO want people to attend...right?

[His Greyness]

Another issue that has not yet attracted attention over here is that the competing nations may not be able to afford to send full teams for eight disciplines to Kentucky. This is what Horse and Hound had to say. (http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/competitionnews/391/284433.html) So the few spectators who can afford the tickets will have an upclose and personal view of the few international competitors who can afford to come.

The basic problem is that the 2010 WEG organizers have been unable to line up many deep-pocketed sponsors to foot most of the bill for the games. If you look at the list of sponsors on the 2010 WEG website (http://www.alltechfeigames.com/about/sponsors.aspx?id=86) it's rather short.

Most of the previous World Equestrian Games have been financial disasters, Aachen was the exception. The taxpayers of the Commonwealth of Kentucky may get an unpleasant surprise when they find out how much loan guarantees and similar financial backstops the Commonwealth has agreed to provide.

I am ignoring the whole thing.

[rabicon]

I'll be really suprised if they have many people show up. 600,000 tickets, I wonder if they'll sell 50K. The hospitality tickets are way crazy. If it included my hotel it might would help but it doesn't. Almost 6K for 2 tickets is crazy. 870.00 for me to buy the regular tickets to eventing sj and xcountry and jumping. :eek:

[DLee]

I don't think many, if any, taxpayers here will be "surprised". This has been complained about from the very beginning. Scary.

[Guilherme]

That 2 people would drop $500 to eat for four days makes me go :eek:
That you can ride with a a multi-time qualifier for the PanAm games in Dressage and Eventing for $4.50 a lesson makes me go triple :eek::eek::eek:

So, my math stinks. :lol:

A more realistic number is 84 private lessons; but that does not include the taxes and fees so you're more likely looking at 90 lessons or so.

Remember that four days on site equals five days total (half of travel on each end). That might even add two out of area motel rooms (increasing the total).

I don't think $100/day for two people for five days is all that much. Not with the cost of "concession" and "road" food. If motels are inflating prices by 300% (or so) for rooms what are restaurants doing? And add in a few $3 bottles of water and pretty soon you've got real money.

The "bottom line" is that five days of sitting and watching something is going to be very expensive. The same money spent on good quality instruction will make a better rider and all horses perform better when the rider is better.

Of course, as with all things, YMMV.

G.

[ESG]

They DO want people to attend...right?

Apparently not. :D

I can't believe that these organizers could be so asinine. Do none of them go to the grocery store, or watch the news, or know anyone who's been laid off?

Idiots. This WEG will be a ghost town, and the organizers will have themselves to thank for it. The Europeans are too smart to pay those sorts of prices when they have world class competition in their backyards. And we North Americans should be, too. Go to WEF, go to Rolex, go to Spruce Meadows, and you'll see world class riding. And still be able to pay your bills. :p

[War Admiral]

That H&H article made interesting reading: so the poor GROOMS have to pay the inflated hotel prices too??!!! Someone needs a reality check. IMO all exhibitors and grooms should get a deep discount just for showing up!

The main thing that worries me - apart from the "poor poor pitiful ME, I can't afford to go" factor, which in my case was kind of a given anyway - is: what's going to happen the NEXT time the horse business in the state of KY needs some financial help from the taxpayers? Will the public hold up the Badfinger and say Aefvue? Couldn't blame them a bit if they did.

[Foxtrot's]

Maybe there will be a fire sale closer to the time and we can all jump on aeroplanes,
grab a couch from a COTH member very cheaply and be able to attend after all????
Scalpers might be losing their shirts?

We have the same thing here for the 2010 winter Olympics - but aparently there are lots of people out there who will be coming to the expensive hotels, etc, provided they have booked in advance. Not much available now. All the best tickets went to the Olympic family, in-crowd and dignitaries. We were given a chance for tickets from my daughter's federation, as a former Olympian, which was supposed to be able to channel some tickets - never heard back.

[War Admiral]

I'm also wondering that, Foxtrot's. ISTR watching an entire week's worth of soccer at the '96 Games for about $5-10 per game, just by hanging around in downtown Athens a couple hours before each kickoff with cash in hand... I would NEVER have been able to afford face value tickets for the whole week!

[BarbB]

The basic problem is that the 2010 WEG organizers have been unable to line up many deep-pocketed sponsors to foot most of the bill for the games. If you look at the list of sponsors on the 2010 WEG website (http://www.alltechfeigames.com/about/sponsors.aspx?id=86) it's rather short.



Read the thread on Alltech refusing to let Hilton Herbs have a booth at the WEG and you will get a sense of what is going on, sponsor wise.

Alltech got a LOT of leeway in return for being the main sponsor.

Many of the companies that come to an event like that are not just setting up a booth and advertising their products....they are also sponsors in a big way.
Probably a small company like Hilton Herbs is not, but how many other companies that are not being allowed to attend are actually potential sponsors?

I certainly understand Alltech wanted to protect their piece of the pie, they are the title sponsor and I can't even imagine what that cost them and whatever they negotiated they have a right to. But perhaps the organizers should have looked farther ahead and negotiated better deals with all the potential sponsors and not been all giddy over grabbing a title sponsor.

[Coreene]

A) title sponsorships come with exclusivity, B) giving this event to the US had financial disaster written all over it from day one, and C) Aachen knows how to do this already, does it every year, and the vast % of the horses were already in Europe and vanned in. When a show costs $76 mil, and the title sponsor pays $10 mil, ticket prices have to make up a huge part of the costs. KY is a backwoods venue and just shipping in the horses will cost a fortune. Don't bring a big equestrian event to a nation with no tv coverage and expect sponsor $$.

[LaurieB]

A) title sponsorships come with exclusivity, B) giving this event to the US had financial disaster written all over it from day one, and C) Aachen knows how to do this already, does it every year, and the vast % of the horses were already in Europe and vanned in. When a show costs $76 mil, and the title sponsor pays $10 mil, ticket prices have to make up a huge part of the costs. KY is a backwoods venue and just shipping in the horses will cost a fortune. Don't bring a big equestrian event to a nation with no tv coverage and expect sponsor $$.

exactly. :yes: :yes:

[His Greyness]

Just for kicks I started poking around the Internet looking at other equestrian extravaganzas.

Last time I saw the figures the Badminton Horse Trials, with 200K spectators, had a budget of about $4 million. That would be just for the three day event, which is one of the most expensive disciplines to put on.

Over half the funding for the Olympic Games comes from broadcasting rights. Only 11% comes from ticket sales. Green eye-shade types can find more detail here. (http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/facts/revenue/index_uk.asp) NBC is paid to put on the limited coverage of the Rolex Kentucky Three Day event. It's a "time buy". I have seen no details of the financial side of NBC's proposed coverage of WEG 2010.

Even the FEI, in its history of the World Equestrian Games (http://www.fei.org/Events/FEI_World_Equestrian_Games/Pages/History.aspx), can't spin away the financial difficulties entirely. Sporting success does not equal making a profit, or even breaking even.

Finally, a cautionary tale from Horse and Hound (http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/article.php?aid=64138&cid=397) for would-be suppliers to the World Equestrian Games. Kentucky taxpayers take note as well.

[enjoytheride]

We are planning on going for one day and whatever is the cheapest just to shop.

Is the shopping going to be good or not?

[lalahartma1]

Too bad Alltech didn't kick in more cash so tickets could be more affordable!

[Zevida]

The ticket prices are right in line with what I expected and I can't wait to go!

And no, I am not rich, but I know how to save and will be enjoying my first big vacation in four years.

[Rhond7]

The price list made my eyes bug out, too. I can't imagine anyone going for the entire games.

But I also know that no one goes to the Olympics for the entire time, either. You buy tickets for a few events.

It's not like Disney where you buy a pass to a park for a day and go everywhere in the park.

I wrote an article about how a family might be able to swing a trip to the WEG, but it will take planning ahead and some confidence in the future.

http://thehorseyset.net/3552/getting-a-family-to-the-2010-weg/

Rhonda

[2foals]

Ok, I'm disappointed that tickets are so expensive. But I'm thrilled that the games are coming to the US and to Lexington. I disagree with Coreene, I see no reason why we should just lay down and let Europe keep the games. And I think that Kentucky is going to benefit economically over the long term from the games. The improvements to the horse park and the surrounding area are making it a very attractive venue for major horse shows which I believe will bring increasing numbers of competitions, horses, and tourists to the area. Horses and the tourism they generate are fantastic economic opportunities for Kentucky, and they are clean and support keeping our state beautiful. I also don't think that Kentucky is exactly a "backwoods" venue.

[magnolia73]

so the poor GROOMS have to pay the inflated hotel prices too

I think grooms are employees and probably have their expenses covered by their employers.

[Coreene]

And if you go back and reread my post, you'll se that nowhere did I say that Europe should keep it. Abdolutely nowhere whatsoever. As for being a backwood venue, this thread is about prices, and those prices come from the cost of putting on the event. When 90%+ of the horses have to be flown in (as opposed to a European venue, where 90% are already in Europe and can be vanned), yes that makes it a backwoods venue.

[magnolia73]

That 2 people would drop $500 to eat for four days makes me go

That's $62 a day- a pretty normal per-diem for even government travel meals:
$15 for breakfast (inc tip and coffee)
$15 for lunch, a few waters, a coke
$30 for a nice dinner with a glass of wine.

Not unrealistic.

I hope that the hotels really aren't $300 a night- I know there are a few nice ones in downtown Lexington...but there are also a lot of Motel 6's and Super 8's to be found.

And I think an international traveler- say a wealthy european or south american- someone who takes a hospitality package might find Lexington somewhat backwoods if they end up having to stay off an interstate due to a lack of rooms in downtown.

I hope they can find people to pay the prices. I'm not so sure that will be possible with this economy.

[Coreene]

WEG packages sold in Holland have some nice hotel attached, at least with the ones I checked. And, again, "backwoods" is in relation to location to the rest of the world vis a vis horse transport, and from the $ side by giving it to a country in which there is no television support for equestrian events, few Really High Digit Sponsors, etc. It was not me giving the middle finger to the city, I would have said the same if it had been anywhere outside of Europe. Now the FEI will learn, again, that international events of this magnitude need to be rethought in terms of $$ when they hand out venues.

[petitefilly]

The Games are not for Americans only, there are lots of monied Europeans/South Americans willing to come over and spend. Has anyone been to the WEG in Europe? Was the cost the same? Although I agree it is expensive to attend, no one predicted October 2008 and I am assuming this event has been planned well before the world economy turned to $hit.

I hate to tell you that the prices in Europe are MUCH cheaper. Aachen was $27.00 a day, all day, all the dressage you could watch. They started with 60 horses and weeded the competition down to the last 15 over four days. Grand Prix and Freestyles the same price. I hope Lexington loses their shirts. Sorry to say the plane ride to Europe might be cheaper than buying all the dressage tickets here.

What a bad taste to put in your mouth. Man, I don't even think the economy is going to support all this, but who knows, maybe the ultra rich will come in droves. Too soon to tell. If none of us buy tickets (yes, I wanted to go, but none of my friends can afford to go) the last minute tickets will go cheaply. Too bad you have to plan ahead to go. :(

[Mickey the Marcher]

And, again, "backwoods" is in relation to location to the rest of the world vis a vis horse transport,

There ain't nothing backwoods about KY in general and Lexington particular when it comes to shipping horses in and out to the rest of the world, they probably lead the world in that.

[SaturdayNightLive]

There ain't nothing backwoods about KY in general and Lexington particular when it comes to shipping horses in and out to the rest of the world, they probably lead the world in that.

Well considering most of the horses will have to be put on a plane from Europe...

If the games are held in Europe, very few horses have to be flown in, as most European teams are in, well, Europe. With the games being held in the US, the only horses not being put on a plane are the US horses.

That makes it a backwoods choice. Kind of like when the World Cup was in Malaysia.

[paw]

Must admit - I'm surprised at the cost if the tickets, and probably won't be going now; I can't justify spending as much money as took us to the Amazon for 2 weeks for one week (or less!) at the WEG.

There are probably a lot of relatively local folks who would have loved to have come (not to mention us WestCoasters!), and really done alot for horse sport in the US - too bad that the prices are so offputting.

[Coreene]

"location to the rest of the world" - read again. And I hardly think it leads ... Amsterdam, anyone?

[Keepthepeace]

Well about 10-12 people from our barn were going to come down and stay for the whole show. Not now at those prices I'm afraid. :no: We had a blast in Vegas at the World Cup but it was much cheaper than the WEG will be. We will wait and buy a copy of the DVD and have a pot-luck get together instead. MUCH CHEAPER. :winkgrin:

[claire]

Another issue that has not yet attracted attention over here is that the competing nations may not be able to afford to send full teams for eight disciplines to Kentucky. This is what Horse and Hound had to say. (http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/competitionnews/391/284433.html) So the few spectators who can afford the tickets will have an upclose and personal view of the few international competitors who can afford to come.

The basic problem is that the 2010 WEG organizers have been unable to line up many deep-pocketed sponsors to foot most of the bill for the games. If you look at the list of sponsors on the 2010 WEG website (http://www.alltechfeigames.com/about/sponsors.aspx?id=86) it's rather short.

Most of the previous World Equestrian Games have been financial disasters, Aachen was the exception. The taxpayers of the Commonwealth of Kentucky may get an unpleasant surprise when they find out how much loan guarantees and similar financial backstops the Commonwealth has agreed to provide.

I am ignoring the whole thing.



Thanks for posting the H&H article. Did anyone see the attached article. I never realized that AllTech would have the power to "ban" any vendors they considered competitive from the marketplace.

Kind of limits the shopping experience, huh? :confused:


Hilton Herbs banned from attending 2010 WEG by Alltech


4 July, 2009

British feed supplement manufacturer Hilton Herbs has been banned from the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky by title sponsor Alltech, the US feed giant.


Alltech, which has an annual turnover of $400million, claims the Somerset firm, which has 17 employees, is competition.

The US biotechnology company told organisers that Hilton Herbs, a manufacturer of herbal supplements for horse feed based in North Perrott could not have a stand at WEG next year (25 September-10 October 2010).

Under its sponsorship contract, Alltech has the right to exclude competitor manufacturers from the event.

Co-owner of Hilton Herbs Tony Self is furious. He was informed by email in May, despite paying a $2,500 (£1,500) deposit to secure a tradestand back in 2007.

He said: "It's a disgrace. Our products don't compete with theirs — they don't do herbal supplements. This is a WEG, everyone will be there. We thought it was a golden opportunity to push our products in America."

But Terry Johnson, vice-president of sales for WEG, was unrepentant.

He said: "Alltech has paid $10million [£6m] to sponsor the games, it's the largest single sponsorship in horse sport in the world and that level of investment warrants exclusive rights. Hilton Herbs, although a fine company, does conflict with those [rights]."

Mr Johnson has apologised to Hilton Herbs and returned Tony Self's deposit with $45 (£27) interest. He said 15 companies had been excluded from WEG.

But Mr Self said his deposit should not have been taken in the first place, adding: "We've been working on arrangements for months."

Claire Williams, executive director of the British Equestrian Trade Association, said: "I can understand Alltech's position. This sort of sponsorship exclusivity is not unusual, it's happened at other events.

"But it is disappointing Hilton Herbs weren't told [they could not exhibit] in the first place."
A spokesman for Alltech confirmed they had signed an exclusive sponsorship deal with WEG that meant other feed manufacturers could not attend.

[Pat Ness]

I am starting to wonder if I can get my $750.00 deposit back for the tickets I paid for almost 2 years ago. The news that Alltech can pick who can be at the trade fair really rubs me the wrong way. I did not mind the ticket prices, the hotel prices are worrying me, but the hope for a great trade fair is fading.

[Coreene]

For ten million dollars to be the title sponsor, you get to be the exclusive. Same as Aachen's sponsor Havens being the only feed company. What pays the cost of putting it on better, Alltech's millions or HH's $2500 trade stand? People, get a clue on this: they gave it to a country that has almost zero real life support of equestrian sports. Who did you think was going to foot the seventy-plus million dollar bill for this shows, the Easter Bunny?

[KC and the Sunshine Band]

Coreen,

Do you have a vested interest in WEG? Why so condescending?

What do you care if people are disappointed in the sky high prices?

[claire]

For ten million dollars to be the title sponsor, you get to be the exclusive. Same as Aachen's sponsor Havens being the only feed company. What pays the cost of putting it on better, Alltech's millions or HH's $2500 trade stand? People, get a clue on this: they gave it to a country that has almost zero real life support of equestrian sports. Who did you think was going to foot the seventy-plus million dollar bill for this shows, the Easter Bunny?

:lol: True, True. Just had a blonde moment!

Like most here, I guess I had taken my business hat off and was looking forward to the WEG as a once in a lifetime opportunity on my home turf to do some top horse sport viewing and do some serious shopping with a wide variety of world class competitors and vendors.

Had my dose of reality: Ramifications of hosting an equestrian competition of this magnitude in a country with miniscule support for equestrian sports in the midst of a worldwide, economic catastrophe. :uhoh:

[Coreene]

As I said over in dressage as well: Aachen already has longtime sponsors in place, already had 80% of the facilities in place and does this year in and year out; it's not something that's set up purely for one event. And they have the benefit of 60+ years of being Aachen, in a part of the world that is mad about horse sports, and the resulting need for advertising was almost nil in comparison to enticing people to go to Kentucky. So the overhead for putting on WEG four years ago was nothing like it will be here, when it's all from scratch. Someone has to pay for it, and when there's such an obscene cost to cover, it's really scary that the total revenue from complete ticket sell-out would cover less than half the cost.

Sponsors in Aachen include Havens, which has the feed exclusive and which is not just sold in Germany, Warsteiner beer, ditto, Merecedes-Benz, ditto, and some others. The ROI has to make sense. Unless you're a title sponsor in Kentucky, what benefits are you going to get? Your name on some ads, your presence there on banners, ads, etc., but not much else. Television coverage overseas isn't going to matter to almost any North American advertiser. If a company is trying to, say, go after a slice of the French / German / Belelux market, it would be much more cost-effective to spend far less than the sponsorship cost and market directly in those areas.

It's very easy to compare the cost of WEG 2010 to the World Cup, Spruce etc., but in reality those venues are not being built from scratch, they are not bringing in jumping and dressage and eventing and driving and reining and vaulting, plus all the judges stewards officials that go with each discipline. And World Cup this year lost money.

Horse sports in the US will never, ever have the required sponsorship that it takes to foot a large part of the bill for events of this magnitude, and they will never have what brings in the most $$ of all: television.

So, no, I have no vested interest in any of it. But there is a very simple reason why the cost is what it is. Damn unfortunate that the tickets cost so much, but not surprising at all.

[carasmom]

I was at the KHP last weekend for a show and was told that the footing in the new GP ring cost $245,000. They have added this footing in 2 of the warm up rings and 1 outdoor ring (Stoneleigh)They also were saying that the stadium had seating for only 9,000 so I can't imagine where they are putting people unless they are planning on putting up temporary bleachers on the other 3 sides. I asked if they were going to have lawn seats for cheap people like me. :yes: I will say the new indoor arena is pretty impressive. They are going to start using the new GP ring and indoor this fall for several shows. I think the only way I will get to experience the WEG is to volunteer for a couple of days.

I live only 1 1/2 hours from the KHP and it's a shame that even the locals are saying it's too expensive. I stayed in a La Quinta last weekend for $61/night and the hotel was saying it would be close to $245/night for the WEG IF we could get a reservation. Friends of ours have rented out their small farm for the entire WEG to some Europeans for enough to pay their mortgage for a year! I have also heard that Europeans are buying land and building facilities to house their horses prior to the games and then giving them back to the original owners when the WEG are over. It's too crazy!

[mares tails]

I was at the KHP last weekend...They also were saying that the stadium had seating for only 9,000 so I can't imagine where they are putting people unless they are planning on putting up temporary bleachers on the other 3 sides.
The new indoor arena (reining, vaulting) will seat ~6000, the outdoor arena will seat 30000.
"Over 800,000 square feet of space to be filled with a Trade Show Village, Kentucky Experience, Sponsor Showrooms, Alltech Experience and more (http://www.alltechfeigames.com/venues/default.aspx?id=200&ekmensel=c580fa7b_8_18_btnlink)."

And (http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/category/2010-fei-games/), "Games organizers also want to make sure they leave room for average, local people who just want to come out to see some horses and riders do amazing things. That’s why some general admission tickets will be available. (Prices will be announced late this summer.)"

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