Royal Adelaide Show ticket price hike - what you’ve been saying

A trip to the Royal Adelaide Show this year looks set to aggravate that hip pocket nerve. And angry SA families have not been shy in letting organisers know what they think. Join the debate here.

Will the prices for this year’s Show have you thinking twice about attending? Picture: Brenton Edwards

The cost of a ticket to the Royal Adelaide Show will rise sharply this year - and, unsurprisingly in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, readers have had a bit to say about it.

As The Advertiser reported, the cost of tickets for a family, adult and child will all rise this year, with different increases for weekdays and weekends.

Showgoers can save $10 by pre-purchasing tickets.

None-the-less the price hike has prompted an angry reaction from South Australians, who are saying the increases might be enough to keep them away from the Show this year.

Read more about what readers have been saying on the topic and join the conversation by posting your comment below or on The Advertiser Facebook page.

Journalist David Penberthy has also unleashed on the decision to increase prices, saying the number of free events at the Show didn’t justify the cost of entry for “working people who really are on the bones of their backside at the moment”. Read his full spray here.

NOT HAPPY!

NELL
Absolutely outrageous.

ANTHONY

Rip off. Haven’t gone for years because of the cost!

LEANNE
I’m sure it’s a huge stress on parents’ budgets but they do it for the kids, as parents do. Somebody should be stepping in (govt??) and putting a stop to these ridiculous entry fees. The rides, food, showbags are expensive enough without a fee to go through a gate.

MEL
They make enough money within the gates. The ticket price rise has now made it an every second year treat now.

CRYSTAL
It’s pretty bad. I think the Show should have a set price for entry and rides are free.

DYLAN

It was too expensive 25 years ago.

LET US IN - FOR FREE!

SANDY
Should be free to enter the show - or a gold coin donation. The greed is sickening.

BELLA
Should be free entry we spend enough on food, rides, showbags and carnival sideshows, face painting, and so on.

JANETTE
Come on SA, people with children are doing it tough. Make it affordable so those that want to take advantage of the free entertainment can at least get in.

ANITA
Should be free entry. Costs so much once inside. Can’t do both!

PAULINE
Have free entry, because people spend enough inside. Make it affordable for everyone, not just the rich.

SHAUNA
Families with kids should be free.

SA families have reacted angrily to news of a price hike for this year’s Royal Adelaide Show.

A PRICE HIKE, IN THIS CLIMATE?

NANNA LINDA
With people struggling to put food on the table, how can they afford to go to a show? Quite disappointing.

DEBBIE
I think it has been priced beyond anything sensible now. People are hurting financially and the average family couldn’t afford to get through the gates, let alone pay for food, drinks, attractions and show bags once through the gates.

THANKS, BUT I’ll BE A NO SHOW

SHAUN
I’d rather take my kids on a shopping spree than waste money at the Show.

SEBASTIAN
I won’t be going anymore sadly. People are struggling as it is. This will be an event for the rich, not the poor. Shouldn’t even charge to get in to start with. Imagine how much more money they would make if they didn’t charge entry FEE because more people would go & spend money inside.

PETER
It looks like the rich and toffy Show high and mighty have lost touch with normal residents of Adelaide and South Australia. In a time where we are one jump away from a recession and where money is tight, people will go for putting food on the table, or ensue that their house has enough power etc. Way out of balance, Show people. I, for one, will not be attending.

BENNY
Easy, just vote with your feet. My family won’t be going to the Adelaide Show, but we WILL be going to some country shows, which are only about 10-15 dollars for a family of four to get in the gate.

SONYA
I can’t afford to take my child!!!

PAULINE
Obviously they don’t want people to come.

BARNZY
This year’s attendance will drop massive.

MELISSA
It is way too much. I won’t be going now.

DEREK
They’ll get all of your money anyway, so why take so much at the gate? Will be giving it a miss.

CHRIS
Too much for me. I open my wallet at the gate and it doesn’t stop once in side, either.

Just boycott the Show. Don’t go putting yourselves more in debt.

SOME PERSPECTIVE, PLEASE

GAIL
Everything goes up, we all know that. However, if you are a young family with three or four kids, it’s a VERY expensive day out. Certainly out of the budget for most pensioners. BUT.....when you can get 50k plus going to the footy every week, perhaps things aren’t as grim as everyone is banging on about.

JOE
Unfortunately user pays. Show can’t go on unless it’s viable. Businesses doing tough everywhere. My way of thinking is can’t afford (it), don’t go.

GREY
Cheaper than Disneyland.

OBSERVER
Show has bills to pay. Wages north of $50 an hour, the money has to come from somewhere.

TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY

CASEY
The food is that expensive it’s ridiculous. Eat before you go.

PERRY
Pfft, just don’t go. The show is a pale imitation of what it used to be and I wouldn’t go if you paid me to. I just feel sad for the kids who don’t know any different and their under pressure parents.

ANDREW
Simple solution - don’t go. Your kids will thank you once they grow out of wanting to go to the Show.

PS
I won’t be taking my family this year. It would be cheaper to given them $50 not to go.

GUY
If you cant afford to go don’t. Show some restraint.

I’M GOING TO GAWLER!

SUE
Gawler show is much more affordable and the experience is just as good, that’s where my money is going.