Just looked at an ad for the Big Train Show, Ontario Ca this coming June 2-3 . No wonder attendance is falling, $12 just to get in the door ! Plus the cost of parking. Sure busts up a $20 bill fast.
At this rate of fees, it’s bound to kill the big shows but then the local clubs is still where it’s at and most likely last through time.
Cheers or aloha TOF in Hawaii
A few shows in the UK are charging the equivalent of $13.50. Quite a number have free parking…one big show charges half that for parking.
Obviously not aware of the saying about the Golden Goose.
In the UK it makes it even harder for fans - with the price of gas at nearly $9 an Imperial gallon and diesel fuel costing even more.
UK fuel tax averages the equivalent of $3.42 per gallon.
The recent national gun show in Newark UK charged £17.50 for entrance. At the time of writing that is ~$28. Must have made a tidy profit for the organisers - there were over 40,000 visitors over the two days…
tac, ig & The Cemetery Loop Boys
Before the internet shows were the only way to see everything going on in the industry. I used to fly or drive up to 10 hours to attend some well known national R/C shows. I seem to recall the gate charge was always around 10 or 15 bucks. After all the expense of getting there admission seemed cheap.
Today with the internet I can stay at home and use all that travel money for a new kit/engine/radio. Same can be said of model railroading. I used to go to two major shows a year, now they’re just not that important to me anymore.