‘Better off at Gawler’: Family’s reaction to Royal Adelaide Show price spike
An Adelaide family has revealed their first reaction to realising a trip to the Royal Adelaide Show was going to cost them more than $400.
SA News
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A Burton family is considering skipping the Royal Adelaide Show and getting their festival fix at a local event amid rising gate fees.
It will cost Kate Pearson, 43, and her husband nearly $450 to attend this year’s Royal Adelaide Show with their two children, Charlotte, 10, and Lily, 8 as gate tickets rise by $10 on last year.
“The show has just turned into this thing where it’s cost upon cost upon costs and it’s just getting harder each year,” Mrs Pearson said.
“What upsets me is that we still have the option of going but there are families out there that have to miss out on making good memories together because they can’t afford it and a lot of kids are going to miss out.”
For the Pearsons, a family pass will cost $80 at the gate on weekdays and $90 on weekends, with pre-sale tickets priced up to $17.50 cheaper.
“My first thought when I saw the new prices was that we’re better off going to the Gawler show instead because it’s too much,” Mrs Pearson said.
“It seems like the (Royal Adelaide) show has become more about making money than bringing the community together.
“The show is meant to be for everyone to enjoy, not just for those who can afford it and I think they (the Royal Adelaide Show) have forgotten that.”
Prices to this year’s Royal Adelaide Show have risen steeply – with gate prices up by up to $10 on last year’s entry fees.
During the week a family will pay $80, up $10 (a rise of more than 14pc) and $90, also up by $10 (a 12pc rise) on the weekend, if they buy their tickets at the gate.
An adult ticket is now $36, up $7 (24pc increase) on weekdays, and $42, up $9, (27pc rise), on weekends.
While children will pay $26.50 at the gate during the week, up $8 (43pc) and $30.50, up $10 (48pc) on weekends.
Chief executive Will Rayner 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 purchased 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.”
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.
The Royal Adelaide Show is on from September 2-10.
Price of a day at the Royal Adelaide Show
Showbags: $50 per child
Rides: $100
Food: $100
Parking: up to $33
Tickets: $62.50/$75 pre-sale or $80/$90 at the gate
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