2023 festival ticket cost

Where...Ragley Hall, Warwickshire. When...24-26th June 2022
bikenav
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2023 festival ticket cost

Post by bikenav »

loyalty ticket price for the 23 event is £89 plus £15 for trail access this year that was inclusive so effectively up over 16% I wont be buying one unless something new and/or very special is added to the mix.
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Re: 2023 festival ticket cost

Post by johnnyboxer »

How many folks attended this year ?
It’ll be a sell out for 2023 too
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Re: 2023 festival ticket cost

Post by AlanHolt »

Whilst this year was a sellout, there were lots of people who didn't attend who were still trying to sell their tickets after the event started. Its a great event and i'll definitely be there next year.
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Re: 2023 festival ticket cost

Post by Moo »

I bought a Saturday ticket as couldn't attend all weekend. Problem is, the Saturday ticket said you could arrive from 9am.

All the vendor stalls for booking on rides opened at 8am. Hence most places were booked up before i could even get through the door. The trail was absolutely rammed aswell.

Food vendors and bars were much better this year. Overall, still as disappointing as last years. I wont be attending again as i feel its got too big. Shall go to the smaller festivals instead.
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Re: 2023 festival ticket cost

Post by Godspeed »

Currently £109 for a weekend ticket, an extra £15 for the trail ticket, and then an extra £59 if you want Thursday night access too…£183 for a weekend… I spent less than that on petrol for 3400 miles travelling, think I know where I’ll be spending my money next year too 😉
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2023 festival ticket cost

Post by johnnyboxer »

Godspeed wrote:Currently £109 for a weekend ticket, an extra £15 for the trail ticket, and then an extra £59 if you want Thursday night access too…£183 for a weekend… I spent less than that on petrol for 3400 miles travelling, think I know where I’ll be spending my money next year too Image
I think the same now
Went in 2019 (and enjoyed it)
Went this year and it was loads busier - didn’t bother with the trail as it was v busy and seemed to be full of enduro bikes
Enjoyed the trade area and got sorted with some panniers (after viewing all options, for hard & soft types, which was useful) for the Tenere 700
Rode the T7 World Raid (which I wanted to do) however the test ride was spoilt by 2 knobs in front of me who were trying to wheelie Yamaha’s bikes on the road (a traffic offence) & had to be pulled up by the ride staff - which stopped the test ride for all of us
Went for a ride around the cotswold villages on my bike at noon on Saturday and on returning to the site I saw that Police cars had pulled some bikes for traffic offences on local roads, near to the show ground
By mid afternoon, on the Saturday I packed up and went home, barely staying 24 hours at the ABR festival….preferring to ride on Sunday around home turf of the Dales
Too big
Too commercial
Too many crazy riders …..showing off (lack of marshalling)
Doubt I will go back
Last edited by johnnyboxer on Sat Jul 23, 2022 6:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 2023 festival ticket cost

Post by Alun »

Thanks for the feedback gents, much appreciated.

From this side of the fence the response from the 2022 Festival has been overwhelming in its positivity and endorsement.

When you’ve 10,000 people attending an event I’m well aware that it’s impossible to cater to everyone’s specific needs but on the whole, and speaking as the founder and organiser, I reckon the ABR Team, the motorcycle industry and all the other stakeholders delivered a fantastic event in 2022. I’m proud of them all for the work and commitment they put in to deliver such a fantastic Festival.

And the acid test is….as I type we are at record ticket sales for 2023 which means more people than ever agree that the ABR Festival is great value and provides a weekend of enjoyable motorcycle based entertainment.

Looking at this thread it appears to me that the main thrust is:
Too expensive
Too big
Too commercial.

It’s no secret that since I decided on the move to the premium location of Ragley Hall the ABR Festival was never going to be a budget event where we slept in ditches and pissed in hedges. I’ve done too many of them and I took a guess that most other riders felt the same.

Ragley does not come cheap, neither does the level of services the festival provides. Just one example; the toilet and shower ratio to ticket holders is massively better than any other festival I or our suppliers know of and they are cleaned around the clock. This level of service costs the best part of £100k. It is not something I’m prepared to compromise on.

There are over 100 security guards on duty, 10 dog units, 80 traffic marshals, 120 bar staff etc. etc. The total crew count for the weekend of the ABR 2022 is in excess of 1500 people. The ABR Festival is not a budget event and does not pretend to be.

I’m not exactly sure what ‘too big’ and ‘too commercialised’ mean but I understand the sentiment. I felt similar when Cardiff City eventually got to the Premier League.

One change for 2023 involves enduro bikes and the on-site Adventure Trail. Whilst enduro bikes and riders are welcome at the ABR Festival no competition enduro bikes are allowed on the adventure trail.

This decision has not been taken lightly, quite the opposite. Whilst I have huge sympathy for those owners of enduro bikes that rode within the rules a sizable number did not and presented a clear and observable threat and hazard to the majority on the trail.

The decision has been made for the safety and security of the public attending the festival. In addition, when an event gets to the size of the ABR Festival, there are additional legalities, concerns, and responsibilities to the public, local authorities and services, staff and crew and all manner of stakeholders that do not apply to smaller gatherings and once apparent and in the public domain cannot be ignored.

For 2023 we've lots more new features, attractions and activities we're working on. I'll let you know when we've nailed them on.

Once again gents, many thanks for the feedback.

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Re: 2023 festival ticket cost

Post by johnnyboxer »

Alun wrote:Thanks for the feedback gents, much appreciated.

From this side of the fence the response from the 2022 Festival has been overwhelming in its positivity and endorsement.

When you’ve 10,000 people attending an event I’m well aware that it’s impossible to cater to everyone’s specific needs but on the whole, and speaking as the founder and organiser, I reckon the ABR Team, the motorcycle industry and all the other stakeholders delivered a fantastic event in 2022. I’m proud of them all for the work and commitment they put in to deliver such a fantastic Festival.

And the acid test is….as I type we are at record ticket sales for 2023 which means more people than ever agree that the ABR Festival is great value and provides a weekend of enjoyable motorcycle based entertainment.

Looking at this thread it appears to me that the main thrust is:
Too expensive
Too big
Too commercial.

It’s no secret that since I decided on the move to the premium location of Ragley Hall the ABR Festival was never going to be a budget event where we slept in ditches and pissed in hedges. I’ve done too many of them and I took a guess that most other riders felt the same.

Ragley does not come cheap, neither does the level of services the festival provides. Just one example; the toilet and shower ratio to ticket holders is massively better than any other festival I or our suppliers know of and they are cleaned around the clock. This level of service costs the best part of £100k. It is not something I’m prepared to compromise on.

There are over 100 security guards on duty, 10 dog units, 80 traffic marshals, 120 bar staff etc. etc. The total crew count for the weekend of the ABR 2022 is in excess of 1500 people. The ABR Festival is not a budget event and does not pretend to be.

I’m not exactly sure what ‘too big’ and ‘too commercialised’ mean but I understand the sentiment. I felt similar when Cardiff City eventually got to the Premier League.

One change for 2023 involves enduro bikes and the on-site Adventure Trail. Whilst enduro bikes and riders are welcome at the ABR Festival no competition enduro bikes are allowed on the adventure trail.

This decision has not been taken lightly, quite the opposite. Whilst I have huge sympathy for those owners of enduro bikes that rode within the rules a sizable number did not and presented a clear and observable threat and hazard to the majority on the trail.

The decision has been made for the safety and security of the public attending the festival. In addition, when an event gets to the size of the ABR Festival, there are additional legalities, concerns, and responsibilities to the public, local authorities and services, and all manner of stakeholders that do not apply to smaller gatherings and once apparent and in the public domain cannot be ignored.

Once again gents, many thanks for the feedback.

Sorry if I sounded negative

I thought the facilities-food & showers:toilets were spot on as was the trade area and the buzz
What spoilt it for me was the number of riding and riders actually on site and the speeds some were trying to achieve on the narrow tarmac road through the estate and trade area, when you were looking at stuff and then trying to negotiate riding bikers too
You had put up No Parking signs between the road and house side (opp trade area), but these were totally ignored and not enforced
I think the show & trade area needs moving further away from the tarmac road, as there will be an accident and there should be no moving bikes in the static area (trade and food area)
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Re: 2023 festival ticket cost

Post by bikenav »

I have been to the original Midland rally and all 3 festivals originaly on my own this year there were 10 in my loose group, largely due to my prompts of what a good event it is, and I standby that now, as in many experiences the the value added reduces over time, if you understand what I mean, that with the rate of increase in cost over the 3+1 years for essentially the same thing, is ruling out 2023 for me. I suggest to people if they have not been, for sure to go and make up their own mind, It is a good event the toilets/facilities are excellent for the most part and that is important. The riding is fun, I hold up my hand I did not stick to the speed limits to the letter but I hope that I did not piss anybody off either but still toke the opportunity of knowing that there were no 13 year olds on ponies around the next bend ( I am very respectfull of other trail users in the normal trail enviroment) to ride with a little more pace but still sensibly and that is probably the high point of the weekend for me largely because of the limitations I impose upon myself on normal trailriding, (I was riding my own GS12 and sampling the Honda AT and 300) that is common to at least some of my mates too. I am not really a rally goer but have sampled a few, this event is large but not brash, the vibe is good, unsure what too commercial means yes people are selling stuff, I dont remember buying anything myself, but have spoken to interesting people, listened to others, bumped in to others I rarely see, you can easily find a quiet spot if you like or listen to good music too, but the campsite was quiet, clean with 100% good behavior. from my mates I have had a mixed response none have said it is not a good event those that have been only the once largely appear to be going again, those that have been more are questioning the cost rise and value for money. A Pattern?

Bottom line if it were cheaper I would likely go again, if you introduce something new to attract my attention as more "rider" than rallyist maybe I would reconsider, but as I understand the loyalty ticket deal is finished so unlikely. I did speak to Bryn both at the Ireland Rally and the Festival and in fairness he toke the time to listen to my thoughts on both occasions. Thanks for the fun and good luck in 23 and Thanks for replying to my post,
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Re: 2023 festival ticket cost

Post by bikenav »

enduro bikes- no real strong thoughts, most riders were reasonable I thought, but GS headlamps are expensive and there were a few dimwits, I see the event aimed at the larger bikes or at least a different niche to enduro bike riders, as an ex enduro bike rider myself the trail route or even the Little London track hardly warranted a 300 smoker in my opinion, surely there are more fitting places to take one for a blast with a little more challenge. I am sure there are a few exceptions where it would be a nice opportunity for some but on balance they probably dont belong.
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