There is nothing quite like the threat of missing out to fire up people’s willingness to buy a ticket.
This years Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will take place as ever at the Curragh but with a dramatically reduced attendance due to the major development work which has now started.
At a briefing beside the racecourse yesterday Chairman Padraig McManus reiterated that there would be no moving of the race to another venue and that further to publicity critical of that decision during the week that there had been a surge in demand for tickets to the blue riband event.
The development will lead to a stunning bringing up to date of ‘headquarters’ and will take two years to complete in full.
Read about how the project came together
The building work means though that in order to get to a maximum Derby Day capacity of 30,000 in 2019, that the limit for this year and next will be reduced to 6,000 or one third of those who attended in June of last year.
That is a dramatic drop but the decision is made and the long term benefit was clear to see yesterday.
Alternative suitable racecourses that could stage the race programme were sounded out amid a wide industry consultation but with the track itself not being impacted at all during the construction it was felt that maintaining the Curragh’s place at the heart of Irish racing was important.
A marquee grandstand will be the centrepiece but it is in the change to the flow of people, the added experiential facilities on race days and as a tourism centre that the greatest impact will be felt.
It will be a spectacular addition to Ireland’s sporting facilities and Sport for Business will be keeping you up to speed on progress over the next two years, starting with an interview with CEO Derek McGrath ahead of a ‘Live Experience’ event we will be hosting for Sport for Business members as part of our Round Table series on March 22nd.
The Curragh Racecourse and Horse Racing Ireland are full members of the Sport for Business community. Click below to find out what we can do for you today.
