Official attendance count, opening day: 23,081 per Lex. Chamber of Commerce.
Watched some of the reining of USEFtv, and the stands looked practically empty.
But looked like the endurance horses got a nice crowd for their sendoff.
Day 2 (Sunday) Attendance count: 12,259 per Lex CoC
Are these numbers what they expected? They seem very low. The stands were very sparely populated today as well.
I said to a friend that the attendance reminded me more of dressage days at the Rolex 3D.
Between the original ticket prices being so high and the hotel prices, a lot of people were discouraged, and by the time they started lowering prices, it was too late.
I do expect the Freestyle Friday night to be packed. And the weekend (X-country and jumping on Sunday) will be buzzing.
[QUOTE=Smarty7;5123860]
Are these numbers what they expected? They seem very low. The stands were very sparely populated today as well.[/QUOTE]
They had expected over 600K for the duration. Seems like they are tracking way low.
[QUOTE=blaster;5126480]
They had expected over 600K for the duration. Seems like they are tracking way low.[/QUOTE]The 600k number was an initial estimate years ago (before economy tanked). I don’t think any of WEG’s recent budgets were counting on anywhere near that number.
The 600K number was just based on the number of tickets they needed to sell to be successful. They had no clue how many they would actually sell.
[QUOTE=mares tails;5126964]
That’s what they sold. I bought a total of 42 tickets, couldn’t go, so put them up for resale and ten of them didn’t sell.
There were tons of unsold resale tickets on ebay and stubhub, so those seats will remain unfilled - they can’t give those seats away like they are scrambling to do with the unsold seats.
Tuesday attendance count: 24,237. Increased a tiny bit.
Wed. attendance: 31,026. Eventers rolling in, no doubt! 
well, I for one am secretly glad the numbers are down. I can’t stand going to a really great event and being shoulder to shoulder with everyone. Guess I’m getting old and stodgey! The less folks in my way, the faster I can get into the park and see everything I want to see! Like being at Disneyland after hours!
Yikes…
I was just looking at a picture of the grandstand area on the 2010 Radio Show FB page and the crowds look so sparse epecially for beautiful day. I know Thursday is work day but but it looks like there are less people on a Dressage Thursday at WEG than a Thursday Dressage day at Rolex. Kind of sad given WEG is not likely to come back to the USA again.
I do think the organizers and the hotels shot themsleves in the foot when they did not rethink there pricing sooner as the economy tanked. I never commited to it because of the prices for the hotel and having to travel from the Northeast to KY. The only reason I am going to WEG XC day is because I manage to get a really low airfare from NYC on Friday night to CVG as well as a hotel nearby. Just going to get a good nights rest and head out early to KHP in my rental car and spend the day and early eve at WEG and drive back to CVG and then fly out Sunday morning. Would LOVE to have spent more time at WEG and strongly I agree with what Evenstar said:
“Between the original ticket prices being so high and the hotel prices, a lot of people were discouraged, and by the time they started lowering prices, it was too late.”
It’s a shame so many seats went empty and it KILLS me that I am not sitting in one of them right now!!
[QUOTE=Regal Grace;5129510]
It’s a shame so many seats went empty and it KILLS me that I am not sitting in one of them right now!![/QUOTE]
This. And it’s particularly annoying that the official site can’t even be bothered updating live scores, posting ride times, etc. I mean, I would have GLADLY volunteered to go sit in the press box and do it! :lol:
But I did come over to say that today’s Reining session is sold out - which means that interestingly it’s the fans of “traditional” disciplines who aren’t showing up!
I won’t have today’s official attendance figures until tomorrow a.m. though.
Is the reported “attendance count” the total number of people that entered the park that day? Or is it the total number of attendance at all events that day? With many people attending more than one event per day, if they’re reporting total attendance, the actual number of people in the park might be far less.
Or maybe it means the reining is held in the indoor arena, with fewer seats than the outdoor stadium where the “traditional” disciplines are held.
Quite a few school kids have and will continue to enjoy WEG: in fact their numbers will not be insignificant
Monday’s turnout was helped by about 4,000 schoolchildren who arrived in 69 buses, mostly from Central Kentucky.
The children were there as part of an Alltech program that will bring 52,000 students to the games, sponsored by Alltech’s agriculture industry customers.
I am here at the games. I have to tell you, dressage on Tuesday was nearly empty in the morning. The afternoon filled up more but was still less than half full. Ticketmaster did a sh&*ty job on “best available” seating which is what I selected when I bought the tickets. Some really good (UNOBSTRUCTED) seats were available (probably about 100) and not filled. We moved down into those seats. DH and I spent LESS on lunch today with two margaritas outside the horse park than we did on two cheeseburgers in the horse park on Tuesday.
They really did shoot themselves in the foot. The food is ridiculous, the parking astronomical. I sincerely doubt WEG will ever come back to the USA. That said, I am glad I am here. I was really mad at myself for missing the Olympics when they were here. But, MAN, I need to sell my soul to the devil to pay for everything here.
School children free while pricing those most interested in attending out??? Just not right, sorry.
I think I will save my money for Normandy in 2014. Even with the Euro up over the dollar, I should still get a better return!:lol: And the food will be way better! :lol::lol:
I saw a bunch of school kids today over by the parade of breed barn
In the kid section. They were having a blast!! I’m damn glad that Altech gave them free tickets. And I paid dearly for mine, and don’t begrudge them a bit.
Last seen, kids lining up to throw a hula hoop over a clever horses head, who would duck at the last second, and seemed to be having as much fun as the kids.
