Concerts after Irish Race Meetings

Hino

After seeing the attendance dip 9% this year. Mainly due to the weather however i think it would be a great idea to have concerts after race meetings especially at the Curragh.

For me there is a great chance at increasing attendances and also geting people intrested in racing. Sure you will get some idiots but dont you see that on derby day anyway. I think the Friday night on Derby Weekend would be perfect for such a event. There is usually great atmosphere that night any how.

Worked well across the water so why not give it a try

cson

Not a entirely new idea, Limerick Racecourse do this every summer for their evening meetings. Twilight racing iirc. Saw the Blizzards there last year, good gig but strange place to have it above in the stand.

Don't know how it'd go down in the Curragh, its a more serious type of crowd that the place attracts imo and they wouldn't be hanging around for the concerts I hazard a guess, bar it was Mike Denver or something like that.

careca

Hino wrote: »

After seeing the attendance dip 9% this year. Mainly due to the weather however i think it would be a great idea to have concerts after race meetings especially at the Curragh.

For me there is a great chance at increasing attendances and also geting people intrested in racing. Sure you will get some idiots but dont you see that on derby day anyway. I think the Friday night on Derby Weekend would be perfect for such a event. There is usually great atmosphere that night any how.

Worked well across the water so why not give it a try

I presume you mean big acts?

The curragh do have some band playing (normally tribute band) on Friday night, derby weekend, after racing. Also leop have a band on every Wed during the Miller nights in the Summer. they play on til about 11 (iirc) and if the weather is good, they normally get a good crowd.

The problem with getting someone big is the cost obv. with racing sponsorship and crowds falling, I doubt very much if the organisers would pay big money to get a good act to play.

Hino

To be honest i dont see big acts coming like Red Hot Chili Peppers(come back to slane please)lol:pac:.

But in Time nightclub they have the likes of Paddy Casey and The Coronas a good bit. Why not get Paddy Casey to play..he isnt going to charge very much if nightclubs can get him to play. I think it would be great for the sport....All we need to a Irish version of royal ascot:eek:

careca

The problem I have with it is I would stay on after racing to watch Paddy Casey (as an eg), but I would have gone in the first place for the racing. Like I wouldn't be sitting at home saying, I might to Leop tonight cos Paddy Casey is playing after, if you get my drift.

Saying that, I wouldn't be big into music so I might not be the norm.

do you think people would go racing, just to see a good gig after? I'd imagine the organisers would try anything to get the figures up, esp this year.

BangBeater

Irish racecourses need to work on the basics first IMO... i.e. the bar facilities... they are not the best at all. In fact quite awful!

For example Punchestown; NYE this year. ****e little bar to the left of the parade ring. Ages to get served. Pint of some kind of black foul tasting substance served in a Bud glass... when I asked for Guinness!

Were-rabbit

careca wrote: »

I presume you mean big acts?

I dont post too often ..

The Curragh do have some band playing (normally tribute band) on Friday night, derby weekend, after racing. Also leop have a band on every Wed during the Miller nights in the Summer. they play on til about 11 (iirc) and if the weather is good, they normally get a good crowd.

The problem with getting someone big is the cost obv. with racing sponsorship and crowds falling, I doubt very much if the organisers would pay big money to get a good act to play.

The crowds this year at Leop were very small as it was most nights and the weather did nothing to help .
Will be interesting to see how the switch to Thursday night works (from Wednesday) to draw in the post work crowd. Though this may not be enough to counteract the reluctance of people to spend. A reduction at the turnstiles may also be needed, as well as an improvement in facilities for inclement weather.

Its simple Sponsors want numbers to see their name be it on the TV, Race card or track banners.TV is nailed. The racecard and other on site adverts depend on numbers through the turnstiles. Future sponsors want to see previous years numbers. Get people in to create the numbers to increase the appeal to the sponsors.
Some race courses have worked on this (Naas racecard voucher scheme good example, others offer Family tickets or two for one days, ladies free days[though I do feel two for one better and fairer]),others work on the get more from who we have. What has baffled me is the increased OAP entry especially mid week. :eek:These are the people available to go racing when everyone else is at work or such surely it should be do all to increase the numbers these days [give them a tea voucher].

Re the Concerts, a problem is quite often at Leop is more people are arriving only for the concert after the turnstiles have stopped charging in ( I am sure the same happens else where)!
As it is an up hill battle to get people to spend money through the gate am unsure that spending more money on bigger name bands upfront will work, unless you capture the turnstile revenue of those who only want to see the band who arrive after 5th race.

There also is the risk of alienating more of those who support racing on all those Mid week and Saturday meetings through out the year rather than building a solid base of new active race goer. The increase and development of a stronger base group of attendees is what will get the racecourses through tough times. A balance does need to be found.

BangBeater Re Punchestown NYE you obviously missed the free mulled wine, smelled fine but you could have started a tractor with it!!:D