Dublin Marathon 2024

I didn't think it needed to be said yet again to be honest.

I believe they organise and budget the event based not on the number of tickets sold, but on the numbers predicted to actually show up. All big events do it, and base it on historical patterns.

And while there are fixed costs, many costs will be linked to the number of entrants. And not even the obvious things like number of bags, medals, water bottles, etc, but things like police and volunteer support. 5000 extra people is not some insignificant number, even in a marathon.

So if they are selling 22000 tickets now but are planning for 17000 actually showing up, a transfer system that skews that planning would be a disaster. Having to use bin bags at the expo would be the least of the problems.

Thats simply my opinion on whats happening, but if anybody can show an invoice that demonstrates DCM purchased 22000 medals this year I will happily stand corrected.

I am sure they did not buy or plan for 22k of anything but in that case, would they not be better of capping the entries at their expected number (say 17-18k) and implementing a proper transfer system where bib names can change right up to the Expo?

Of course no even will ever have 100% attendance - I have seen empty seats at All-Ireland Finals where tickets could not be bought for love nor money - but surely in the interest of efficiently assigning and procuring resources, etc then its better to have an accurate number of attendees rather than finger in the air stuff and having people moaning they ran out of bags at the Expo for example?

So the only way you'll change your mind is if someone does something you know wont happen. Thats pretty convenient.

Myself and a few friends all failed to get entry in the lottery and the subsequent refund window fyi

To be honest it was such a sham of a system, knowing at least two people who weren’t going to race it and couldn’t transfer their entry to me, that I’m not arsed this year. I know DCM won’t miss my business and it’ll sell out anyway but doesn’t mean it’s the right way to do it.

You seem to be taking all this very personally, I didn't realise that my own opinion was so important.

"Convenient" implies that I was trying to achieve something more than just answer the question you were repeatedly asking.

Should we not be blaming the 6k who did not show up and what ever percentage of them didn't transfer their number, rather than the organisers themselves. A friend of mine got injured a good while back but didn't transfer because he wanted to run next year. If they changed it so last years runners are not guaranteed entry next year, then this thread would be 4 times as long. Now saying that the transfer fee of 30 euro is excessive and they do deserve criticism over that.

I believe fundamentally, the biggest issue is guaranteed entry. Many people are signing up because they are being offer a place, post marathon while still on the adrenaline buzz as apposed to seeking out a spot in the marathon.

Anecdotely the people I know who didn't take part, signed up only because they were offered the place and didn't want to miss out.

Does any other marathon in the world offer guaranteed entry to past participants? I firmly believe Dublin marathon will continue to have a disproportionate amount of no shows, regardless of transfer windows, while this is the case.

I agree with you, I dont blame the people for securing their place for next year, I know i am contradicting myself there from my last post but i would do the same. I really do think anyone that enters the lottery will get offered a place, last year there was a few days where it went to general sale so that just shows that lottery didnt sell out.

But surely all they have to do is extend the existing refund window? Its not as if the tech, etc isn't there - its already being used. Having an arbitrary 4 week window in which you can get a refund, which is sort of before the training gets in to the really long distances and people pick up injuries, etc, is farcical.

Even if they extended it to 2-3 weeks before the marathon there must be thousands of no-shows who know at that stage their marathon is over. Give them the option of the refund then minus the admin fee (who knows what Eventmaster charges them for this....) and let somebody else get the bib. I just don't understand it.

If organisers don't want people running on other peoples bibs, then this is the only option to cut it out by letting people drop out and somebody else run in their place. There is no way the event will ever have 22k people wanting to run it in any given year but surely those who want to run it should be facilitated where they can?

You are probably on to something there, its great PR to be in that bracket. But people quickly see through a farcical claim.

I dont think asking to enter a lottery is exactly asking you to jump though hoops though is it, it would take you 2 minutes.

It shouldn't be encouraged, but if you take away every other option, it will keep happening

I asked the same question a few pages back regarding other races that offer guaranteed places to previous years participants. Valencia marathon does something similar so I checked out their capacity v finishers for last year (2022).

30,000 capacity / 21,250 finishers (approx). A 28% no show, very similar to Dublin this year. Now that's only one year, and very basic research, so not evidence of anything, there could be lots of factors that tie into it.

Manchester had 28k signups but only 18k finishers this year. Pretty common

Valencia had a non refundable lottery this season as well, its pretty common. I think the non-refundable is to stop people just entering for the sake of it. Why do you think you should just be entitled to a spot, its the biggest marathon in the country.

It's understandable that you wouldn't want things to change because you're in the golden circle and it suits you. That doesn't however preclude there being better ways to do things.