Radio host David Penberthy lashes Royal Adelaide Show for $10 entry increases

There are fears many pensioners won’t be able to afford the Royal Adelaide Show this year after price hikes, with one woman saying she’ll go to the footy instead.

• ‘The greed is sickening’ – Show bagged over ticket price hike

Alison Phillips takes her pensioner mum to the Royal Adelaide Show every year but she’ll be skipping it in 2023 because of the gate entry price hikes.

It would cost Ms Phillips, of Largs Bay, and her mum $78 to get in the gate on a weekend and $67 on weekdays, up from $59.50 and $52.50 respectively on last year.

“Unfortunately with the prices being that high it’s just not accessible for pensioners, which is a shame because it’s a tradition for us to go together,” Ms Phillips said.

“With the cost of living soaring there isn’t room for a lot.

“My mum did mention that the (Port Adelaide) footy finals are just around the corner so we will have to keep money aside for those outings.”

All entry ticket prices have increased compared with last year, with a weekday adult ticket up by $7 to $36, a children’s ticket up by $8 to $26.50, a concession ticket up by $7.50 to $31 and a family ticket up by $10 to $80.

Children’s ticket prices had risen the most in percentage terms, with the weekday cost up 43pc and the weekend ticket up 48pc.

Angry SA families haven’t held back in letting organisers know what they think.

Adelaide radio host and journalist David Penberthy has slammed the increased gate prices.

On Tuesday, entry prices for the iconic event were released, with weekend entry tickets on sale for as much as $42.

Weekend ticket prices had the biggest increases, with adult entry up by $9 to $42, children’s tickets up by $10 to $30.50, concession tickets up by $9.50 to $36 and a weekend family entry up by $10 to $90.

“The show should explain whether these prices are in line with the extra costs or whether this is just gouging families on account of the fact that they lost so much money during Covid,” Penberthy said on his FIVEaa breakfast radio show.

Radio host David Penberthy has lashed the Royal Adelaide Show over increased entry prices. Picture: Matt Loxton

Queues of people line up to get in to last year’s Royal Adelaide Show. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“That is not a little bit, that is a whole stack of money for people in the middle of a cost of living crisis.”

Penberthy said the free activities offered by the show did not justify the increased prices.

“We don’t really care how many free activities there are, (it’s) the process of getting through the door for working people who really are on the bones of their backside at the moment,” he said.

One caller said it was “all about revenue and it’s really, really sad”.

Chief executive Will Rayner on Tuesday encouraged people to purchase tickets ahead of time, particularly for prime time days that were at risk of selling out.

A Royal Adelaide Show spokeswoman said only 9 per cent of show-goers purchased tickets at the gate and that cost for people who purchase pre-sale tickets had increased by $1 to $4.

“We are always mindful of the pressures on households and have sought to minimise the flow of increased ticket prices on our visitors in 2023,” she said.

“Pre-purchase tickets enable us to better plan our staffing and other resources, which minimises our costs and allows us to maintain our ticket prices.

“It is a win for everyone.”

Adult and children’s pre-sale tickets are discounted by $10 on weekdays and weekends.

Pre-sale tickets are $26 for adults on weekdays and $32 on weekends while entry for children is $16.50 on weekdays and $20.50 on weekends.

Visitors can pre-purchase passes up until the day of their intended visit, depending on availability.

The show will feature characters from popular kid’s TV show Bluey for the very first time.

This year’s show returns to Wayville on September 2 and will run through to September 10.