Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Why are Triathlons in Ireland so expensive to enter?

24

Comments

  • #32
    bryangiggsy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭bryangiggsy


    aburke wrote: »
    No, I've nothing to do with Eireman.
    I was race director of the Fields of Athenry 10km for the last 2 years.
    €18 entry - Check race reviews elsewhere on this site to decide whether it was good value.

    If you want cheap, I've been a race director at Athenry AC legs of the Galway 5km series. €30 for 6 races, fully chip-timed.

    bryangiggsy, you are trolling, and I [like the fool that I am] have responded.
    Name your race, and how how did it cheaply and at a high quality.

    I never said my club did it cheaply.

    I have started this argument myself and have raised it with my club before whilst on a race committee. Why would i involve a club or race as these are my opinions? I commend you for running races at 18 euro a pop. I wish my club and others would follow suit but until there is some direction coming down from the top at Triathlon Ireland then these mad prices will continue to be charged unless athletes revolt ...but judging by opinions on this that ain't never going to happen.


  • #33
    aburke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 606 ✭✭✭aburke


    bryangiggsy wrote: »
    I never said my club did it cheaply.

    I have started this argument myself and have raised it with my club before whilst on a race committee. Why would i involve a club or race as these are my opinions? I commend you for running races at 18 euro a pop. I wish my club and others would follow suit but until there is some direction coming down from the top at Triathlon Ireland then these mad prices will continue to be charged unless athletes revolt ...but judging by opinions on this that ain't never going to happen.
    These 'mad prices' will continue until you do something about - within your own club for starters.
    If you couldn't make it happen within your own club, they why do you demand that other clubs do it?
    This is the essence of hypocrisy.
    Piss or get off the pot.


  • #34
    bryangiggsy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭bryangiggsy


    aburke wrote: »
    These 'mad prices' will continue until you do something about - within your own club for starters.
    If you couldn't make it happen within your own club, they why do you demand that other clubs do it?
    This is the essence of hypocrisy.
    Piss or get off the pot.

    I never demanded anything. But Thanks for your opinion. Exactly in relation to the op what is your opinion? Do you agree triathlons are over priced or do you think they are good value for money in your opinion whatever that opinion on over priced triathlons is?


  • #35
    cantswim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 101 ✭✭cantswim


    bryangiggsy wrote: »
    I wish my club and others would follow suit but until there is some direction coming down from the top at Triathlon Ireland then these mad prices will continue to be charged unless athletes revolt ...but judging by opinions on this that ain't never going to happen.

    I don't see why TI would be able to dictate anything to the clubs in this area - in fact I would think if TI did try anything they would be told where to go.

    Anyway - it would be like Athletics Ireland trying to tell Connemara or races like that they can't charge 70 for the race. The fact it sells out each years proves there is a market for people willing to pay it.


  • #36
    bryangiggsy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭bryangiggsy


    Maybe if they introduced a pilot scheme for the national Series
    Olympic races set the price at 40 euro
    Sprint Races 35 Euro.

    The races would fill fast at those prices and clubs would have to fall in line
    Just an idea

    Am sure other races out there would love to get into the National Series


  • Advertisement
  • #37
    liamo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭liamo


    bryangiggsy wrote: »
    Will stick to my original estimate which is more than generous at 5 k....

    That estimate was and is rubbish. All that estimate does is demonstrate a complete and utter lack of knowledge on the subject.

    I know of a recent triathlon (both club and race will remain unnamed) where the costs of the race exceeded the income from entries. There was some income from a few race sponsors which made up the remainder of the costs and the balance went to the club but who could begrudge them that as many club members gave up their day to make the race a success for the athletes. Add the months of work that the race committee did to organise the race and it becomes very easy to see that, if they simply wanted to raise money, it would be easier for each member to simply make a small donation to the club instead of going to the trouble of organising a race.

    I believe the above example is probably typical of a lot of club races. I really don't believe that profit is the prime motivation for a club hosting a race; rather it is the privilege of hosting a race for their fellow athletes. As long as they don't lose money then they can continue to host races each year. If they make a few bob along the way it's a very, very small reward for their time and effort.

    Finally, if you think a race is overpriced you have a few options:
    1. Just put up with it and enter.
    2. Don't enter that race; find a cheaper one.
    3. Put your claimed experience of race organisation to use and organise your own, cheaper race.
    4. Go to boards.ie and complain about prices and make outlandish, trollish and completely un-supportable claims.


  • #38
    aburke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 606 ✭✭✭aburke


    bryangiggsy wrote: »
    I never demanded anything.
    For all intents and purposes, you did - in your opening post
    It's time this issue was brought to the fore....
    bryangiggsy wrote:
    But Thanks for your opinion. Exactly in relation to the op what is your opinion? Do you agree triathlons are over priced or do you think they are good value for money in your opinion whatever that opinion on over priced triathlons is?
    'Overpriced' isn't absolute - it's relative to the individual.
    I might feel one race is overpriced but another person may feel its good value - as with any product or service.
    bryangiggsy wrote: »
    I never said my club did it cheaply.
    bryangiggsy wrote: »
    Maybe if they introduced a pilot scheme for the national Series
    Olympic races set the price at 40 euro
    Sprint Races 35 Euro.

    The races would fill fast at those prices and clubs would have to fall in line
    Just an idea

    Am sure other races out there would love to get into the National Series


    So we're back to this - All other clubs should do races cheaply, because bryangiggsy is not willing or able to.


  • #39
    bryangiggsy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭bryangiggsy


    liamo wrote: »
    That estimate was and is rubbish. All that estimate does is demonstrate a complete and utter lack of knowledge on the subject.

    I know of a recent triathlon (both club and race will remain unnamed) where the costs of the race exceeded the income from entries. There was some income from a few race sponsors which made up the remainder of the costs and the balance went to the club but who could begrudge them that as many club members gave up their day to make the race a success for the athletes. Add the months of work that the race committee did to organise the race and it becomes very easy to see that, if they simply wanted to raise money, it would be easier for each member to simply make a small donation to the club instead of going to the trouble of organising a race.

    I believe the above example is probably typical of a lot of club races. I really don't believe that profit is the prime motivation for a club hosting a race; rather it is the privilege of hosting a race for their fellow athletes. As long as they don't lose money then they can continue to host races each year. If they make a few bob along the way it's a very, very small reward for their time and effort.

    Finally, if you think a race is overpriced you have a few options:
    1. Just put up with it and enter.
    2. Don't enter that race; find a cheaper one.
    3. Put your claimed experience of race organisation to use and organise your own, cheaper race.
    4. Go to boards.ie and complain about prices and make outlandish, trollish and completely un-supportable claims.

    4. Go to boards.ie and complain about prices and make outlandish, trollish and completely un-supportable claims.
    Like
    "I know of a recent triathlon (both club and race will remain unnamed) where the costs of the race exceeded the income from entries. There was some income from a few race sponsors which made up the remainder of the costs and the balance went to the club but who could begrudge them that as many club members gave up their day to make the race a success for the athletes. Add the months of work that the race committee did to organise the race and it becomes very easy to see that, if they simply wanted to raise money, it would be easier for each member to simply make a small donation to the club instead of going to the trouble of organising a race"

    I believe the above example is probably typical of a lot of club races.

    What makes your claims any less outlandish or unsupported than mine if you like i are unwilling to back it up by naming the race which only made a few bob?


  • #40
    liamo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭liamo


    bryangiggsy wrote: »
    What makes your claims any less outlandish or unsupported than mine if you like i are unwilling to back it up by naming the race which only made a few bob?

    I don't care about your race or whether or not you were actually involved. Name it or don't name - that's completely up to you. The outlandish claims I referred to were your completely made-up figures of a "more than generous" 5k costs for the running of a race, using this to generate a profit of 15k for a club and then using this (still made up figure of) 15k upon which to base a snide comment about clubs using the profits from a race to train in Lanzarote.


  • #41
    nomadic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,087 ✭✭✭nomadic


    Well the only person to try and put up an example of costs has been tunney. Poor old Giggsy(having a bad week) is getting hopped on here yet there's been no example of costs given to prove him wrong.


  • Advertisement
  • #42
    bryangiggsy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭bryangiggsy


    liamo wrote: »
    I don't care about your race or whether or not you were actually involved. Name it or don't name - that's completely up to you. The outlandish claims I referred to were your completely made-up figures of a "more than generous" 5k costs for the running of a race .

    Can you prove to me it costs more than 5k to run a race for 300 entrants by looking at the costings above?


    ,.[/QUOTE] using this to generate a profit of 15k for a club and then using this (still made up figure of) 15k .[/QUOTE]

    Income of 20k = 300 entrants by 50 euro a pop = 20k.... less 5k or to satisfy u!!!10k (a fugure which is riduculous and incompetent---the race commitee should be sacked...still generates a profit for the club of 10k.

    [/QUOTE]
    upon which to base a snide comment about clubs using the profits from a race to train in Lanzarote.[/QUOTE]

    This is the comment that really pisses u off.If thats the case ill retract Lanzarote and say using the profits to train.


  • #43
    aburke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 606 ✭✭✭aburke


    nomadic wrote: »
    Poor old Giggsy(having a bad week) is getting hopped on here yet there's been no example of costs given to prove him wrong.
    For me, it's not about whether he is right or wrong.
    If he believes, and he does, that races are too expensive, and that they can and should be cheaper, then then onus is on him to set the example.

    But in a complete about-turn, he says that he couldn't even manage to get his own club to reduce prices.
    And then turns to all other races and claims they should reduce prices.
    Sort your own one out first Giggsy, and then tell the rest of us how its done.


  • #44
    bryangiggsy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭bryangiggsy


    bryangiggsy wrote: »
    Can you prove to me it costs more than 5k to run a race for 300 entrants by looking at the costings above?


    ,.
    using this to generate a profit of 15k for a club and then using this (still made up figure of) 15k .[/QUOTE]

    Income of 20k = 300 entrants by 50 euro a pop = 20k.... less 5k or to satisfy u!!!10k (a fugure which is riduculous and incompetent---the race commitee should be sacked...still generates a profit for the club of 10k.

    [/QUOTE]
    upon which to base a snide comment about clubs using the profits from a race to train in Lanzarote.[/QUOTE]

    This is the comment that really pisses u off.If thats the case ill retract Lanzarote and say using the profits to train.[/QUOTE]

    Before anyone says it thats 400 entrants at 50 a pop
    aburke wrote: »
    For me, it's not about whether he is right or wrong.
    If he believes, and he does, that races are too expensive, and that they can and should be cheaper, then then onus is on him to set the example.

    But in a complete about-turn, he says that he couldn't even manage to get his own club to reduce prices.
    And then turns to all other races and claims they should reduce prices.
    Sort your own one out first Giggsy, and then tell the rest of us how its done.

    The point is there is big profits to be made in running a triathlon race and there are big profits being made. The way it is done is simple cut the entry costs while cutting profits. Easier said than done. Greed is good right!What am i doing about it? I dont enter races anymore that I believe are ripping people off with high entry costs and poor value. Thats my contribution. if everyone else followed suit then these races would have to drop their prices. Simple as.End of.


  • #45
    nomadic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,087 ✭✭✭nomadic


    aburke wrote: »
    then then onus is on him to set the example.
    No its not. He's entitled to his opinion even if he has no clue about the costs involved or any intention of running a race.

    This "run your own race or you can't have an opinion" thing is bull****. Sure thats probably how all these "for profit" events got started, they saw how much money was to be made.


  • #46
    aburke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 606 ✭✭✭aburke


    nomadic wrote: »
    This "run your own race or you can't have an opinion" thing is bull****. Sure thats probably how all these "for profit" events got started, they saw how much money was to be made.
    Giggsy is different to some degree.
    He claims to have been on the organising committee of a race, and couldn't do it himself, but expects other race organisers to do it.


  • #47
    liamo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭liamo


    bryangiggsy wrote: »
    The point is there is big profits to be made in running a triathlon race and there are big profits being made. The way it is done is simple cut the entry costs while cutting profits. Easier said than done. Greed is good right!What am i doing about it? I dont enter races anymore that I believe are ripping people off with high entry costs and poor value. Thats my contribution. if everyone else followed suit then these races would have to drop their prices. Simple as.End of.

    I agree that there are profits being made by clubs hosting races. I don't have a problem with this. The alternative is that clubs run races badly, at a loss or don't run them at all.

    I'm sure that some races generate more profit than others. I still don't have a problem with this. Clubs don't exist to provide cheap races for everyone else and deserve a return on the investment of their time and money.

    High entry cost does not necessarily mean poor value. Similarly, a low entry cost does not necessarily mean good value. Frankly, I'd rather enter a safe, well run race for €60 than an unsafe, badly run race for €20.

    If I thought that a race was too expensive I wouldn't enter it. If others think that it represents good value and enough athletes enter then the club will continue to charge that price. If enough athletes don't think it represents good value and don't enter then the club will have to lower its price. That's the market.

    We're in the middle of a recession and people are watching their spending. If athletes are still prepared to spend €40-€50 on a race entry then it seems to me that they feel that it represents enough value for money that they will pay the cost of an entry. That's the true test and the best answer to any question about whether a race entry is priced too high.


  • #48
    nomadic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,087 ✭✭✭nomadic


    liamo wrote: »

    Clubs don't exist to provide cheap races for everyone else and deserve a return on the investment of their time and money.

    Really? A clubs main motivation to put a race on should be to provide a good race for people, not to make money. Break even or make a little money, grand. The return on investment for their time and effort should be seeing people enjoying the race. For the love of the sport and all that lark.


  • #49
    liamo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭liamo


    liamo wrote:
    Clubs don't exist to provide cheap races for everyone else and deserve a return on the investment of their time and money.
    nomadic wrote: »
    Really? A clubs main motivation to put a race on should be to provide a good race for people, not to make money. Break even or make a little money, grand. The return on investment for their time and effort should be seeing people enjoying the race. For the love of the sport and all that lark.

    From my earlier post:
    I really don't believe that profit is the prime motivation for a club hosting a race; rather it is the privilege of hosting a race for their fellow athletes. As long as they don't lose money then they can continue to host races each year. If they make a few bob along the way it's a very, very small reward for their time and effort.


  • #50
    mloc123
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,445 ✭✭✭mloc123


    On a similar note, I am going through the calander here picking out races for the rest of the year. There are 100s of races but I am finding it hard to pick out 3 or 4 races that I know are not **** and that do not cost €70 a pop. €70 for a ****ing sprint?


  • #51
    ecoli
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,762 ✭✭✭✭ecoli


    nomadic wrote: »
    Really? A clubs main motivation to put a race on should be to provide a good race for people, not to make money. Break even or make a little money, grand. The return on investment for their time and effort should be seeing people enjoying the race. For the love of the sport and all that lark.

    Why? Looking from a running perspective here but I think this can apply to both areas. We are in sports that are severely underfunded in terms of grants. Taking my own club as an example some of the expenses which spring to mind:
    • Electricity Bills
    • Equipment
    • facility maintenance
    • Travel costs
    • Coaching courses

    While Membership makes up some of the difference the rest is struggled to be made through heavy fund raising throughout the year (being made harder in recessionary times). I would much rather see these expense off set by providing a high quality race. Sure might be higher price than the bare minimum needed to break even but the knock on effect is that membership subscriptions dont have to be extortionate, the club can provide equipment needed to develop athletes. If a race is run well there is no reason why a club should not benefit from it. If it is not run well people will do the talking with their feet.

    In sports which are heavily underfunded I think people would be more generous regarding supporting the sport they love and prefer to see their money go towards helping the sport than going towards some company who see's races as a way to make a living though prob not involved in the sport and has little regard for its welfare as a whole.

    Some races which I have found to be among the best club run which make a profit and I am glad that they do would include:

    Sportsworld 5 mile
    Enniscorthy 10k
    Rathfarnam 5k
    Raheny 5 mile

    These clubs probably rely on the profits made from these races to help keep the club afloat and even strive towards better facilities etc for the good of their club members

    I think the main two reasons why clubs should host races are profit to offset the necessary expenditure in the club and also advertising the club. As long as the race is well run i see no problem at all with a club striving for both of these


  • Advertisement
  • #52
    nomadic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,087 ✭✭✭nomadic


    ecoli wrote: »
    Why? Looking from a running perspective here but I think this can apply to both areas. We are in sports that are severely underfunded in terms of grants. Taking my own club as an example some of the expenses which spring to mind:
    • Electricity Bills
    • Equipment
    • facility maintenance
    • Travel costs
    • Coaching courses

    While Membership makes up some of the difference the rest is struggled to be made through heavy fund raising throughout the year (being made harder in recessionary times). I would much rather see these expense off set by providing a high quality race. Sure might be higher price than the bare minimum needed to break even but the knock on effect is that membership subscriptions dont have to be extortionate, the club can provide equipment needed to develop athletes. If a race is run well there is no reason why a club should not benefit from it. If it is not run well people will do the talking with their feet.

    In sports which are heavily underfunded I think people would be more generous regarding supporting the sport they love and prefer to see their money go towards helping the sport than going towards some company who see's races as a way to make a living though prob not involved in the sport and has little regard for its welfare as a whole.

    Some races which I have found to be among the best club run which make a profit and I am glad that they do would include:

    Sportsworld 5 mile
    Enniscorthy 10k
    Rathfarnam 5k
    Raheny 5 mile

    These clubs probably rely on the profits made from these races to help keep the club afloat and even strive towards better facilities etc for the good of their club members

    I think the main two reasons why clubs should host races are profit to offset the necessary expenditure in the club and also advertising the club. As long as the race is well run i see no problem at all with a club striving for both of these
    No one would begrudge a club making some money to fund the development of the club/sport etc etc. From a running/athletics club point of view, your post makes a lot of sense.

    But what tri club has a club house/facilities to pay for? There's some serious amounts of money being charged for triathlons, what appears to be a lot more than a €5 odd premium that would be acceptable to fund the club.

    I'd be coming from a cycling point of view and all open races are €10 a pop with MTB races €20. No huge profits, t-shirts, medals, goody bags. 20 odd cash prizes for fields of about +-200. Done for the good of the sport.


  • #53
    Huff n Puff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 164 ✭✭Huff n Puff


    I remember putting up a rough break down of costs for a triathlon last year. I think it might be worth revisiting those figures again. These are from personal experience in 2011 and I don’t doubt for a second that costs will vary greatly with different races.

    Here is a rough break down of expenses for our triathlon.

    Total entry 250 competitors (Sold Out). The totals are calculated per person:
    • Timing Chips - €5
    • Prize Money - €7
    • Pool Rental - €3
    • Barrier and Equipment Hire - €2
    • Medical - €1
    • Water, Food - €1 most food is given by club members. Water sponsored.
    • TI fees - €0.50
    • Race Numbers & Pins - €1
    • Barbecue - €0.50
    • Bouncy Castle - €1
    • Marshall - €1 - t-shirt ,food
    • Expenses e.g. phone, petrol, PA system - €1

    The combined cost per triathlete - €24 (ex booking fee)

    A lot of time and effort went into organising it and it couldn’t have happened without 45 of our club members helping out on the day. A reasonable profit was made and we will use this to fund club activities throughout the year.

    2 major expenses are excluded from the above which many races include:
    • Goodie bag - €10 - €15 - most races now come with technical t-shirt, swim hat, energy gels, socks etc. This can be costly so at the dear side would probably hit €15 per person. Sponsorship can have a large impact here. Buying a tech t-shirt at our race was optional.
    • Post Race Meal - €10 - many races are now including this as standard. Our race goes with the traditional tea, sandwich, bun, cake route and this is largely supplied for free.
    2 major savings that need to be considered:
    • Race Sponsorship - This can range from a few hundred to a few thousand. Much of the items in the goodie bad will be sponsored in return for advertising on, for example, the t-shirt.
    • Prizes - A lot of clubs give out trophies or medals or sponsored vouchers instead of cash prizes. This saves a lot of money.

    Taking those costs into account I believe that sprint triathlons can be well justified in charging anything up to €40.

    From the above analysis you could say that typical costs for a triathlon can range greatly depending on the way the race is run.
    • It is possible to run a very cheap triathlon like our own and still make a profit
    • It is also conceivable that a race might only break even each year due to the high quality of race being put on e.g. Kilkee Triathlon (stated in their AGM document).
    • There are also plenty of races that could cut corners and make a large profit at their race.

    Expenses at races are going to be more than €5000, so bryangiggsy you are inaccurate with your statement. I do agree with your overall sentiment though. I do think a lot of races could be held for a cheaper price and hate to see race prices increase in the economic times we currently find ourselves in. Any sprint triathlon that costs €50 and over would really need to be investing in a fantastic race experience for their competitors.

    Hopefully when the race calendar reaches saturation point we will see all poor value races disappearing.

    aburke - you have to be commended for the great value races that you provide up in Athenry. I was at The Fields of Athenry 10km this year and thought it was great! You are probably coming down a bit hard on bryangiggsy as it can be hard to bring about change by yourself. Reducing your prices is not an easy thing to get a club to agree to especially when that money funds activities for the club during the year. He does however have a valid point, and as an organiser of a few good value races myself, I would love every club / event management company to focus more on providing good value rather than profit margins.


  • #54
    aburke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 606 ✭✭✭aburke


    Huff n Puff wrote: »
    aburke - you have to be commended for the great value races that you provide up in Athenry. I was at The Fields of Athenry 10km this year and thought it was great!
    Thanks for the kind words - hopefully you'll be back!
    You are probably coming down a bit hard on bryangiggsy as it can be hard to bring about change by yourself. Reducing your prices is not an easy thing to get a club to agree to especially when that money funds activities for the club during the year. He does however have a valid point, and as an organiser of a few good value races myself, I would love every club / event management company to focus more on providing good value rather than profit margins.
    Of course Giggsy has a valid point - we'd all love cheaper races and more value for money.
    But I think its a bit much to ask other race organisers to reduce their fees, when his own club couldn't/wouldn't.


  • #55
    bryangiggsy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭bryangiggsy


    Huff n Puff wrote: »
    It is also conceivable that a race might only break even each year due to the high quality of race being put on e.g. Kilkee Triathlon (stated in their AGM document).

    Kilkee is a fantastic race and one i have no problem paying 60 euro for.
    I am surprised though they only break even considering they have around 600+ entrants. In saying that though their race shirt is always nice and useful for training .

    Huff n Puff wrote: »
    You are probably coming down a bit hard on bryangiggsy as it can be hard to bring about change by yourself. Reducing your prices is not an easy thing to get a club to agree to especially when that money funds activities for the club during the year. He does however have a valid point, and as an organiser of a few good value races myself, I would love every club / event management company to focus more on providing good value rather than profit margins.

    Thanks


  • #56
    elvis jones
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,197 ✭✭✭elvis jones


    I know one club who got a bill from the garda for 17k:eek:


  • #57
    ecoli
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,762 ✭✭✭✭ecoli


    elvis jones wrote: »
    I know one club who got a bill from the garda for 17k:eek:

    Have been quoted 3k+ for road closures and additional Garda fee on top of that and that was just a road race so I could well believe it for a Tri


  • #58
    griffin100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,072 ✭✭✭griffin100


    When I helped organise my club tri last year we were only able to keep the costs reasonable (€35 IIRC) as we got some sponsorship. Otherwise the cost would have been closer to €55 but then we only had approx. 110 competitors so economies of scale were an issue.

    IIRC it was around €6 for chip timing; roughly €12 for a goody bag which included a t-shirt and a bike bottle and a couple of quid for food - so each cmpetitor 'cost' roughly €20. The other entry fee was spent on first aid requirements; portaloos; marshal vests; marshal food; pool rental; TI fees; finish gantry hire, hire of mats; some prizes, etc.

    A big part of keeping costs down for us was members providing stuff for free - members with shops provided stuff for goddy bags; others sorted out the printing, some provided free high vis vests for marshals, etc. We also got local businessess to provide spot prizes and additional stuff for the goody bags.

    Lots of the costs are fixed to a great degree irrespective of competitor numbers so one would expect that the larger events could do better on entry fees - although that is not the case. For example the Athy double OD is €95 - I cant see how that can be justified (Tri An Mhi HIM was €65). Its interesting to note that according to the Triathlon Ireland website one of the prerequisites for becoming an alliliated club is that the club must be non profit.
    I know one club who got a bill from the garda for 17keek.gif
    Have been quoted 3k+ for road closures and additional Garda fee on top of that and that was just a road race so I could well believe it for a Tri

    Garda costs have risen substantially recently. I work with the Garda on major events and from what I understand the civilian bean counters now look for a substantial payment from any event that requires Garda resources.


  • #59
    elvis jones
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,197 ✭✭✭elvis jones


    griffin100 wrote: »
    When I helped organise my club tri last year we were only able to keep the costs reasonable (€35 IIRC) as we got some sponsorship. Otherwise the cost would have been closer to €55 but then we only had approx. 110 competitors so economies of scale were an issue.

    IIRC it was around €6 for chip timing; roughly €12 for a goody bag which included a t-shirt and a bike bottle and a couple of quid for food - so each cmpetitor 'cost' roughly €20. The other entry fee was spent on first aid requirements; portaloos; marshal vests; marshal food; pool rental; TI fees; finish gantry hire, hire of mats; some prizes, etc.

    A big part of keeping costs down for us was members providing stuff for free - members with shops provided stuff for goddy bags; others sorted out the printing, some provided free high vis vests for marshals, etc. We also got local businessess to provide spot prizes and additional stuff for the goody bags.

    Lots of the costs are fixed to a great degree irrespective of competitor numbers so one would expect that the larger events could do better on entry fees - although that is not the case. For example the Athy double OD is €95 - I cant see how that can be justified (Tri An Mhi HIM was €65). Its interesting to note that according to the Triathlon Ireland website one of the prerequisites for becoming an alliliated club is that the club must be non profit.





    Garda costs have risen substantially recently. I work with the Garda on major events and from what I understand the civilian bean counters now look for a substantial payment from any event that requires Garda resources.

    A lot of them are on over time. You know yourself you give them your expected numbers and road closures and they give you a price. Pay it or no event so what can you do really ?


  • #60
    nerraw1111
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,818 ✭✭✭nerraw1111


    I know goodie bags vary in quality but the idea that some of them cost between E10 - E15 is very surprising. Seems like a no-brainer to bin the goodie bag and slash the entry price. Else, give people the option of paying extra for a top.

    E30 per race or E45 and a goodie bag? I know which option is more appealing to me.

    I'd rather pay E10-15 less per race and then use the E60 or so saved over the summer to enter another race or two, else buy decent gear.


  • Advertisement
  • #61
    ecoli
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,762 ✭✭✭✭ecoli


    nerraw1111 wrote: »
    I know goodie bags vary in quality but the idea that some of them cost between E10 - E15 is very surprising. Seems like a no-brainer to bin the goodie bag and slash the entry price. Else, give people the option of paying extra for a top.

    E30 per race or E45 and a goodie bag? I know which option is more appealing to me.

    I'd rather pay E10-15 less per race and then use the E60 or so saved over the summer to enter another race or two, else buy decent gear.


    No Goodie bag?:eek::eek::eek: They would riot in the streets. It would be anarchy in the streets:p

    On a serious note many of masses in races justify paying into a race because they are getting something. It doesnt matter the quality as long as they get something for their money the seem to feel it worth it. Dunno if this is a psychological thing or what but it seems to be fact

    Just ask these guys:

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056276530

    Giving them the choice takes away this psychlogical marketing tool it seems as the extra money is seen as the price of the goodie bag their full race entry is now viewed as something else and is no longer a jistification

    (dont agree with this but it does seem to be the marketing theory behind the move)


Advertisement