« Reply #3 on: Thursday 04 May 17 08:28 BST (UK) »
I'm not surprised that it's not paying it's way. They charged extortionate entry fees and then there was the parking charge of £12.00.
It apparently hasn't ever been paying its way even when held in London. One report I saw said the attendance figures were actually up this year and more than its last year in London. I agree the parking charge was extortionate as ever at the NEC but I suspect they thought more people would travel from London and the south east to attend than have and therefore haven't pushed up attendance figures as much as it was thought. Judging by the number of complaints from people in London and the south about the move, I suspect many of the people who have attended over the last three years were from outside that area and perhaps, like me, wouldn't attend in London because of the cost of travelling there. The advance ticket offers for Birmingham appear to have been the same as for the last year or so in London, but I agree the entry fees on single tickets or on the door were extortionately high and will have limited less dedicated visitors.
I would imagine sadly that if the Society of Genealogists decides to return to running their own show it will no doubt be back down in London again.
Edit - The Caravan Club will be covering the cost of parking at the NEC which is why it is free for visitors, probably due to the volume of people attending. I've been to the odd show when this has been the case, but normally the ticket prices would be much higher if car parking was free.
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